QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Drakkar Win Series Opener over Sea Dogs

Published on March 27, 2015 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


BAIE-COMEAU - Jasmin Boutet scored twice and Nicolas Meloche netted the eventual game-winner to lead the Baie-Comeau Drakkar to a 3-1 victory over the Saint John Sea Dogs in Game 1 of their first-round Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff series Friday at Centre Henry-Leonard.

Luke Green had the only goal for Saint John.

Baie-Comeau leads the best-of-seven match-up 1-0.

The Drakkar tried to feed off their home crowd in the opening seconds of the game, but Saint John goalie Sebastien Auger denied back-to-back shots with pad saves.

Bokondji Imama, whom the Sea Dogs acquired from Baie-Comeau during the Christmas trade period, had one of the better scoring chances for Saint John in the first.

It came on a power play with about six minutes left in frame. The Montreal-native wired a heavy wrist shot from the left side that was turned aside by the left pad of Baie-Comeau goalie Philippe Cadorette.

The game stayed scoreless after twenty minutes.

Saint John struck first on a power play nearly three minutes into the middle frame.

Jakub Zboril fed a pass from the right point to the left, where Luke Green hammered a one-timer over the left pad of Cadorette.

The Drakkar nearly tied the game on a man advantage of their own a couple of minutes later when Luca Ciampini took a pass in the middle of the slot for a short breakaway. The overager had to hurry his shot and put it right into Auger's mid-section.

Baie-Comeau did square the affair with under eight minutes to go in the second, just two seconds after a power play chance ended.

Winger Dzimitry Ambrozheichik held the puck on the left side near the goal line before throwing a short pass in front to Boutet, who steered it between the legs of Auger.

The Drakkar grabbed the lead with two minutes to go in the period.

A scramble in front of Auger saw the goalie reach forward for a loose puck. Meloche crept off the point and batted the puck across the goal line.

The Sea Dogs pressed in the third period, but despite three full power play opportunities, they could not score.

One of their best opportunities came four minutes into the period when Green fed a slap pass from the right point to Mathieu Joseph, who redirected the puck just wide on the short side.

Boutet's second of the night came with 55 seconds left.

Guillaume Beaudry sent a slap shot from the left point that missed the goal. It bounced off the back boards and came out on the right wing side of the Saint John net where Boutet snapped it passed a surprised Auger.

The Sea Dogs were able to pull Auger for an extra attacker with about 45 seconds remaining, but could not close the gap on the scoreboard.

Cadorette made 26 saves to earn the win and third star. Auger took the loss with 24 stops.

Meloche, playing his first game in two months, was named first star. Boutet took second star in front of 2,208 fans in attendance.

Game 2 is Saturday, March 28th, at 5 p.m. at Centre Henry-Leonard. Listen LIVE on 96.1 NewSong FM or newsongfm.ca. Watch LIVE online on QMJHL Live (fee applies).

Tickets for Games 3 (Tuesday, March 31st, 7 p.m.) and 4 (Thursday, April 2nd, 7 p.m.) at Harbour Station are on sale now at the Harbour Station Box Office, online at harbourstation.ca or by calling 657-1234.

Check out the Saint John Sea Dogs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central