Frédéric Piché Makes 30 Saves in Sea Dogs' First Home Loss of Season
Published on November 6, 2010 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
SAINT JOHN, NB --- The Saint John Sea Dogs suffered their first home loss of the season on Saturday night, dropping a heartbreaking 4-3 decision to the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in a shootout after staging a dramatic late-match comeback. Saint John trailed 3-1 at the 59 minute mark of the match, with Nathan Beaulieu and Jonathan Huberdeau scoring in the final minute of regulation to force an ultimately indecisive overtime.
Chicoutimi then outpaced Saint John 2-1 in the post-OT shootout, picking up an extra point in the process. In addition to Beaulieu and Huberdeau, Mike Thomas also scored for the Sea Dogs on Saturday while Ãric Gélinas, Steve Lebel, and Billy Lacasse each tallied markers for the Saguenéens.
Between the pipes, Frédéric Piché (30 saves) suffered just his second loss of the year for the home team, with Robin Gusse (36 saves) earning his first victory of 2010-11 after turning in a sensational First Star of the Game performance for the visitors.
Saint John dominated play in the opening half of period number one on Saturday, recording several high-quality scoring chances in the early-going. Some physics-defying acrobatics from Gusse prevented the hosts from converting on any of their chances however, as the game remained scores at the midway mark of the stanza. Chicoutimi then registered the first goal of the night 14:04 into the opening frame, with New Jersey Devils prospect Ãric Gélinas hammering a slap shot past Piché during a Saguenéens power play to tally his third marker of the season.
The visitors took a 2-0 lead at the 6:15 mark of the second period when 18-year-old centre Steve Lebel snuck a close-range shot across the Sea Dogs' goal line to pick up the fourth tally of his sophomore campaign. Lebel's even-strength marker proved to be the lone goal of the middle frame, as Saturday's contest reached the forty minute mark with Chicoutimi in possession of a two-goal scoreboard advantage.
Team Captain Mike Thomas ended Gusses's shutout bid 7:01 into the third period, scoring on a wraparound to improve his 2010-11 goals total to three. The Sagueneens responded quickly however, as Billy Lacasse struck in transition 29 seconds later, giving Chicoutimi a 3-1 lead on an odd-man-rush-ending one-timer.
With Piché on the bench in favour of an extra attacker, veteran defenseman Nathan Beaulieu reduced the hosts' deficit to one with 50 seconds remaining in regulation, knocking home his third of the year after jumping up in the play with tremendous aplomb. Sophomore scoring sensation Jonathan Huberdeau then tied the match up in dramatic fashion, taking a pass from a behind-the-net lurking Zack Phillips and firing a wrist shot past a sprawling Gusse at the 59:55 mark of the match to force an improbably overtime session.
After five minutes of extra time failed to produce a winner, Saturday's match went to a shootout from which Chicoutimi emerged victorious. Saguenéens Ãric Gélinas and Steve Lebel both converted on their penalty shots in the breakaway contest, while Jonathan Huberdeau tallied the lone goal of the post-OT skills challenge for the Sea Dogs.
Up next for Saint John (now 9-0-0-1 at home and 16-3-0-2 overall) is a showdown with the Acadie-Bathurst next Saturday night at Harbour Station (puck drop: 7pm). Tickets to this November 13 affair can be obtained by calling the arena box office at (506) 657-1234, or by visiting www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from November 6, 2010
- Juniors seize victory in as many days - Montreal Juniors
- MAINEiacs Complete Weekend Sweep of Val-d'Or - Lewiston MAINEiacs
- Frédéric Piché Makes 30 Saves in Sea Dogs' First Home Loss of Season - Saint John Sea Dogs
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