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Cape Breton Eagles

Dogs Top Eagles in Final Meeting of the Season

March 5, 2017 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release


SAINT JOHN- The Saint John Sea Dogs came up victorious in their final meeting of the season against the Screaming Eagles, in large part due to special teams. Three power play goals paced the Dogs to a 5-1 victory.

Coming into the game with the QMJHL's top power play, Saint John's man advantage lived up to its reputation in the opening period. First it was Nathan Noel, just 3:11 into the first frame, blasting a shot through the defense and then Kyle Jessiman. Before period's end Mathieu Joseph would double the advantage with another power play marker. Joseph dug the puck out from the blue paint and lifted it into the top of the net on a sharp angle and Saint John had a 2-0 edge through twenty minutes.

Cape Breton had two power plays in the first as well and couldn't captialize, but would make hay very quickly into their first full man advantage in the second period when Mathias Laferrière cashed in on a rebound to cut the margin in half. However, Saint John's two goal lead would be restored when Julien Gauthier scored the afternoon's first even strength goal. The hulking forward converted a drop pass and hammered it past Jessiman and it was 3-1 heading into the third frame.

The Sea Dogs appeared to be coasting to victory but would get into penalty trouble in the second half of the period. Kyle Ward would be given a five minute major and a game misconduct for a check to the head of Ross MacDougall. MacDougall was escorted to the dressing room but would re-appear in the later stages of the power play. And it was a critical opportunity as Noel was given a minor for putting the puck over the glass, and Cape Breton had a full two minute five on three.

But the Eagles could make no inroads and the kill gave Saint John momentum going forward to finish the game. With 2:27 remaining Noel would seal the deal with his second power play marker from the left circle. For added measure the Dogs would benefit from a bounce twenty seconds later- Samuel Dove-McFalls attempted a cross-crease pass, but it bounced off a man in front of the net and in and the final was 5-1 Sea Dogs.

Olivier LeBlanc was playing for the final time in the regular season in the building he called home for the first two and a half years of his junior career. Prior to the contest an announcement was made over the public address system acknowledging his contributions to the Sea Dogs, a team he captained before being traded, and after the game he was named third star.

LeBlanc and the rest of the Eagles blueliners were given additional ice time as the team only dressed five defenseman. Leon Gawanke was absent from the lineup on a designated rest day while Adam McCormick missed the game due to sickness. Up front Phélix Martineau was scratched due to a minor injury.

Next up for the Screaming Eagles is a pair of home games against the Moncton Wildcats, Friday and Saturday at Centre 200. Tickets for the games can be purchased at Centre 200 box office, by calling 902-564-2200 or online at https://tickets.capebreton.ca/Online/default.asp

Three stars: 1. Nathan Noel (Saint John) 2 goals, 1 assist, 5 shots 2. Julien Gauthier (Saint John) 1 goal, +1, 3 shots 3. Olivier LeBlanc (Cape Breton) 4 shots

Scratches For Cape Breton: Adam McCormick (sickness), Leon Gawanke, Phélix Martineau (injury)

Scratches For Saint John: Oliver Felixson (injury), Matt Green (injury), Samuel LeBlanc, Chase Stewart

Final Shots On Goal: 36-20 in favour of Saint John

Cape Breton Power Play: 1/6

Saint John Power Play: 3/6

Check out the Cape Breton Eagles Statistics

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from March 5, 2017


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