QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Eagles Squeak Shootout Win in Game One of Back-To-Back

Published on September 18, 2020 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


Saint John Sea Dogs vs. the Cape Breton Eagles
Saint John Sea Dogs vs. the Cape Breton Eagles
(Saint John Sea Dogs)

The Cape Breton Eagles scored with four seconds left in the third period before taking the game in the shootout, 3-2. Ryan Francis had the tying goal as well as the shootout winner for the Eagles.

Noah Patenaude had the start for Saint John and played the full 65 minutes, his first full game of the preseason and finished with 25 saves. William Grimard played the full game for the Eagles, he finished with 31 saves.

Saint John was without regulars Charles Savoie (day-to-day) and Kale McCallum (healthy scratch) as they inch towards their opening night roster. Several players changed numbers on Friday night including Nicholas Girouard who returned to his regular 92.

Saint John opened the scoring on the power play at 2:56. Josh Lawrence setup a wide open Peter Reynolds on the right side who clapped it home for his third of the preseason.

The Sea Dogs doubled the score at 11:31 when Josh Lawrence won the face-off to Joshua Roy who dished to William Villeneuve at the point for his first of the preseason . Lawrence finished with two assists in the game and has four points this preseason.

Saint John led shots on goal 9-7 in the period and headed to the second with a 2-0 lead.

A scoreless second period saw Saint John control much of the play. The offence combined for 17 shots in the frame. Alex Drover led all Saint John skaters with six shots on goal, he and Charlie DesRoches lead the team in points with six.

Cape Breton finally got on the board at 6:17 of the third period, but Saint John continued to dictate the tempo. With 1:40 to play in the game Cape Breton pulled Grimard from the net for the extra attacker and with four seconds left, Ryan Francis scored his first of the preseason to tie the game late and send it to overtime.

Saint John had the best chances in overtime as Peter Reynolds and Joshua Roy worked in deep with a pretty passing play but the game remained tied and would be decided by a shootout.

After a miss by Joshua Roy, Felix Lafrance coverted to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Jérémie Poirier scored the lone goal for the Sea Dogs with a smooth backhanded play but it was Ryan Francis again playing the hero for the Eagles as he scored the eventual winner on the Eagles' third try.

These two teams will face-off again at 1pm on Saturday. The Eagles will once again provide a complimentary YouTube stream available on their channel.

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Saint John Sea Dogs vs. the Cape Breton Eagles
Saint John Sea Dogs vs. the Cape Breton Eagles
   



Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from September 18, 2020


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