Dogs Extend Streak to Lucky Thirteen
Published on February 19, 2011 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
SAINT JOHN - The red-hot Saint John Sea Dogs made Saint John Flames Tribute Night an extra-special evening with a 7-3 win over the Shawinigan Cataractes.
Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and three assists, Zack Phillips scored twice and added a helper, and Michael Kirkpatrick had a goal and two assists to lead the way as the Sea Dogs sported throwback Flames jerseys. Stanislav Galiev added a goal and a helper, and Tomas Jurco and Gabriel Bourret also tallied singles. Eric Gelinas and Steven Anthony chipped in two assists apiece and Jacob DeSerres made 23 saves for the win.
Tommy Giroux had two goals and Michael Bournival added a single in a losing cause. Gabriel Girard stopped 16 of 21 shots before giving way to Alex Dubeau, who stopped 16 of 18.
The Sea Dogs, who have won 13 straight, improved to 48-5-1-2, including a 27-0-1-1 mark at home and 19-0-1 record in their last 20 games. Shawinigan fell to 37-17-2-1.
A crowd of 5,954 packed Harbour Station for the night of nostalgia celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Flames winning the Calder Cup. The pre-game ceremonies in honour of the Flames set a championship tone in the building. The Sea Dogs players made their entrance from the inflatable dragon used during the days of the Flames. Members of the Flames ownership group were introduced at centre ice, along with former Flames Doug Doull and ex-captain Marty Murray. A police honour guard escorted the Calder Cup to centre ice, where Murray lifted it once again to a standing ovation from the crowd. Some fans then started a spontaneous chant of "We Want the Cup!" in support of Saint John's bid to host the MasterCard Memorial Cup in 2012.
The retro Flames touches extended to tribute videos on the scoreboard, the American Hockey League blazers worn by off-ice officials, and even the old goal horn, which the Sea Dogs set off at every opportunity. After the game, the highest bidders in a silent auction received the commemorative jerseys right off the players' backs.
Kirkpatrick had the best chance of the first half of the first period, breaking in on Girard in the ninth minute but Girard came up with a big blocker save. DeSerres made a great save of his own as the Cataractes rushed back down the other way.
At 10:28 of the opening frame, fans saw a sight they're not accustomed to, as leading scorer Huberdeau dropped the mitts with Cataractes defenseman Jonathan Racine after being dumped behind the net.
The fight seemed to give Shawinigan a lift as Ryan Kavanagh threaded the needle with an incredible backhand pass to set up Giroux's one-timer goal at 12:52.
But the Sea Dogs responded with some offense of their own. In the 15thminute, Stanislav Galiev turned Dillon Donnelly inside out with a jaw-dropping move at the blueline, then snapped a shot off the crossbar.
Phillips finally got one past Girard at 17:06 after another rush by Galiev, picking up the puck, spinning and firing a shot from an impossible angle to Girard's right. The puck somehow banked into the net and stood as his 31stof the year after video review. Galiev and Huberdeau picked up the assists.
Kirkpatrick then gave Saint John the lead just 31 seconds later, following up on Steven Anthony's rebound to make it 2-1. Tomas Jurco had the other assist on the goal, Kirkpatrick's 26th.
Huberdeau made it 3-1 on a power play at 3:43 of the second. After Shawinigan took an extra penalty in a corner scrum, it took the Dogs just seven second to score off the faceoff to Girard's right. From the left-wing corner, Phillips fed Kirkpatrick at the side of the net, and he slid it across the crease to Huberdeau, who finished his 36th of the year.
The Dogs made it 4-1 at 10:18 when Galiev tipped home a blast from the left point by Gelinas. Danick Gauthier picked up the other assist on the goal, Galiev's 27th.
Jurco extended the lead on a similar play at 12:10, tipping Anthony's point shot for his 27th. Kirkpatrick had the other assist on the goal, which ended Girard's night.
Bourret's eighth of the year came on yet another point shot to make it 6-1. Simon Despres and Huberdeau assisted on the goal at 16:47 of the second.
Bournival got one back at 1:15 of the third, but Phillips restored the five-goal margin, banging in a rebound at 4:40 with assists from Huberdeau and Gelinas. Tommy Groulx made it 7-3 at 5:42 to round out the summary.
Just five home games remain after this weekend, including Tuesday's tilt against the Halifax Moosheads (17-37-1-2), a 7 p.m. start. Tickets can be obtained by calling the Harbour Station box office at (506) 657-1234, or by visiting www.tickets.harbourstation.ca. The Sea Dogs would like to remind fans holding flex tickets to cash them in soon to avoid being disappointed by waiting until the last minute. These tickets do not carry over to playoffs and are redeemed on a first come, first served basis.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2011
- Dogs Extend Streak to Lucky Thirteen - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Juniors Tame Huskies - Montreal Juniors
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