QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Dogs Tie Longest Streak in Country

Published on February 25, 2012 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


MONCTON - The Saint John Sea Dogs needed a late goal and some shootout magic to match the longest winning streak in junior hockey this season.

The Sea Dogs overcame two one-goal deficits on the way to a 3-2 shootout victory over the Moncton Wildcats Saturday for their 13th straight win. It's the longest streak in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this year, and matches the 13-game run put together by the Tri-City Americans of the Western League earlier this season.

Charles Roussel and Stanislav Galiev had the goals in regulation for the Sea Dogs, while Jonathan Huberdeau and Tomas Jurco connected in the breakaway contest. Charlie Coyle chipped in two assists and Mathieu Corbeil made 25 saves for his league-best and team-record 33rd win. The Sea Dogs moved back into sole possession of first place overall with a record of 43-14-0-2, one point ahead of the Shawinigan Cataractes (40-13-3-4), who have played one more game.

Scott Trask and Marek Hrivik scored for Moncton and Roman Will delivered a 50-save performance in a losing cause as the Wildcats fell to 27-25-3-3.

Moncton earned four points in the Brunswick News Rivalry Cup - three for surpassing the 6,000-fan mark and one for the shootout loss. Saint John picked up two points in the Rivalry Cup for the shootout win, and trails the Wildcats 20.5-16.5 heading into the final matchup Tuesday in Saint John.

Penalties kept the Sea Dogs from building any momentum in the first period, as Moncton was awarded five straight power plays in the opening frame. The Wildcats struck on Trask's man-advantage marker just 1:25 into the game, but that was the only offence they could manage despite spending nearly half the period with the extra man. Moncton finished with 18 shots to Saint John's 11 in the first, but Corbeil stood tall behind the Sea Dogs penalty killers, whose work included killing nearly a full minute of 5-on-3 time.

The Dogs got a 5-on-3 of their own in the second period, and Roussel was able to even the score 54 seconds into the frame. After Zack Phillips hit the side of the net, coming so close the red light went on, Coyle worked the puck back to Roussel at the left point and his shot found its way through for his 13th of the year.

Hrivik put the Wildcats back in front at 6:33 when he poked the puck past Nathan Beaulieu, went around him and knocked the bouncing disc past Corbeil for his 25th.

Saint John held a 15-5 edge in shots in the second period, and an incredible 20-3 in the third, but could not find the equalizer until Galiev's marker at 15:26. With the Sea Dogs on the power play, the talented Russian took a cross-ice feed from Coyle and beat Will with a shot from the left wing. Kevin Gagne had the other assist on the goal, Galiev's eighth.

The Dogs dominated the shot clock again in overtime, with a 6-1 shots advantage, highlighted by a late flurry that almost saw Jurco bag the winner.

Jurco, however, had to wait until the shootout to ice the extra point for the Sea Dogs. After Huberdeau beat Will with a beautiful deke to the backhand and Corbeil stopped Allain Saulnier and Hrivik, the slick Slovakian stepped up to write another entry in his personal encyclopaedia of shootout wizardry. Jurco made a nice move to the forehand and flicked a shot past Will's blocker to give the Sea Dogs the margin of victory.

The Dogs are back home Sunday when the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles come to town for a 3 p.m. start. Sundays are Family Fun Days and four-ticket packs are available for $46. Tickets are available at the Harbour Station box office, by calling 506-657-1234 or online at www.tickets.harbourstation.ca. Fans are reminded to cash in their flex packs early as just four home games remain.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2012


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