QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Late Comeback Falls Short InRouyn-Noranda

Published on February 17, 2018 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


ROUYN-NORANDA, QC - The Saint John Sea Dogs scored three times early in the third period, but could not complete a comeback in a 5-3 loss to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, Saturday at Iamgold Arena.

The goals came after the Huskies carried a 4-0 lead into the third period.

Mathieu Boucher and Tommy Beaudoin had a goal and an assist each for Rouyn-Noranda (33-16-5-3) while Samuel Naud, Alexis Arsenault and Justin Bergeron also scored. Peter Abbandonato added three assists.

Ben Reid, Robbie Burt and Ostap Safin replied for Saint John (13-33-8-2). Safin's goal extended his goal-scoring streak to five games (seven goals).

Radim Salda chipped in with two assists to give him 37 points, a new team record for points in a season by a rookie defenceman.

A scoring summary is available HERE.

The Sea Dogs hit two goal posts early in the first period, but could not find the net.

On the game's opening shift, Anthony Boucher took a pass on the left side of the crease and snapped a one-timer off the outside of the right post.

Near the midway mark, Safin broke in alone and ripped a wrister off the same bar.

The Huskies opened the scoring with under two minutes left in the period on their third power play of the game.

The puck was fed around the right-wing boards and behind the net to Patrik Hrehorcak, who threw it back out on the short side. Boucher tapped it inside the left post.

Naud doubled the lead with 21.5 seconds left in the period, driving from the right side to the front of the goal and backhanding a shot past the blocker of Saint John goalie Matthew Williams.

Rouyn-Noranda added another power play strike nearly six minutes into the second when Beaudoin, parked off the top of the crease, redirected a pass from the right circle beyond Williams' right leg.

Arsenault made it a 4-0 game with four minutes left in the second when he crushed a one-timer from the high slot past a screened Williams.

Saint John started to carve into the Rouyn-Noranda lead more than six minutes into the third.

Salda carried the puck on the right side, cut into the middle and sent a wrist shot wide of the left post. The puck bounced back to the side of the goal where Reid snapped it home.

It became a two-goal game 43 seconds later when Burt brought the puck into the right circle and whistled a heavy wrist shot over the glove of Huskies' goalie Zachary Emond.

Rouyn-Noranda called a timeout after Saint John's second goal, but the Sea Dogs' leading scorer brought his team to within one goal on the very next shift.

Safin worked a give-and-go with Anthony Boucher at the Rouyn-Noranda blueline. The Czech winger raced in on the right side and beat Emond with a quick shot to make it 4-3.

The three Saint John goals came in a 1:14 span.

The Huskies countered 55 seconds after that when Bergeron fired a wrister from the right circle that beat Williams over his blocker.

Emond earned the win with 17 saves. Williams took the loss despite 55 stops.

Abbandonato was named first star with three assists while Salda's two helpers made him second star. Mathieu Boucher snagged third star with a goal and an assist in front of 1,793 fans in attendance.

The Sea Dogs' next game is Wednesday, February 21st, at 7 p.m. against the Moncton Wildcats at Harbour Station. Tickets are available at the Harbour Station Box Office and online. Buy before the day of the game and SAVE!

Listen LIVE on 96.1 NewSong FM or newsongfm.ca. Watch LIVE on Neulion.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from February 17, 2018


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