Late Game Push Propels Sea Dogs Past Eagles in 4-3 Win
Published on December 16, 2022 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
Saint John Sea Dogs centre Connor Trenholm in front of the Cape Breton Eagles net
(Saint John Sea Dogs)
Brady Burns scored the game winner with 1:23 remaining to cap off a three point night and lead the Saint John Sea Dogs (10-18-1-1) to a thrilling 4-3 win over the Cape Breton Eagles (11-17-2-1) in front of the crowd at TD Station on Friday.
Cam MacDonald and Connor Trenholm each added a goal and an assist in the victory while Vince Elie chipped in a pair of helpers.
Charles Boutin and Olivier Houde led the Eagles in the loss with a goal and an assist each.
Ventsislav Shingarov made 32 saves to pick up the win for the Sea Dogs while Nicolas Ruccia made 36 saves for the Eagles.
The first period was relatively even between the two teams for the first twelve minutes.
The Sea Dogs got the only two power plays of the frame, but despite being very active they could not convert on either.
Cape Breton almost capitalized towards the end of the Sea Dogs first advantage, creating a 3-on-1 that resulted in a good chance for Samuel Johnson that was stopped by Shingarov.
Shots were 11-10 for the Sea Dogs after a scoreless first period.
Just over a minute into the second, with the Eagles on the powerplay, the Sea Dogs forced a neutral zone turnover that sent MacDonald in alone on Ruccia, but he hit the post.
The Eagles came back up the ice immediately for an odd man rush that resulted in a high danger shot from Boutin but Shingarov shut the door.
A minute afterwards, Trenholm skated past both Eagles defenders for a chance of his own, but Ruccia came up big for Cape Breton to keep the game scoreless.
Trenholm continued to cause havoc five minutes later, circling the Eagles zone into the slot for a shot that was stopped and the rebound was almost put away by Eriks Mateiko; his shot too stayed out.
The deadlock broke just before the halfway point of the game as Boutin stole the puck in the neutral zone, cut to the Sea Dogs net off the right wing and put a shot under the glove of Shingarov for the 1-0 Eagles lead.
Burns came close to tying the game up just 30 seconds later, receiving a pass at point blank range in front of the Cape Breton goal, but he put his shot just over top of the net.
Five minutes later Pavel Simek skated down the left wing into the Eagles zone and made a great behind the back pass to Mateiko alone in the slot, but his ensuing shot was again stopped by Ruccia.
The Sea Dogs finally found the scoreboard with 3:28 left in the period with an extended 5-on-3 that Burns converted on, firing a laser from the left side faceoff dot to tie it 1-1 heading into the third period.
Shots were 30-24 for the Sea Dogs after the second.
6:02 into the third, Sea Dogs on the powerplay, MacDonald put a wrist shot on from the point that made its way through traffic and past Ruccia, putting Saint John in front 2-1.
The Eagles did not go away though and just over four minutes later Ivan Ivan gloved the puck down to keep the Eagles onside in the Sea Dogs zone and put a shot on that Shingarov would stop but Houde put home the rebound to tie the game once more at 2-2.
Ivan almost put the Eagles ahead off the next faceoff, skating in for a chance of his own, but Shingarov was equal to the task.
Houde continued the pressure for Cape Breton three minutes later, but could not finish on a 2-on-1 chance.
Moments afterwards though, Boutin found Samuel Johnson for a successful 2-on-1 to put the Eagles ahead 3-2 with just over six minutes to play.
Just 1:52 later, Burns caught the Eagles off guard, finding Trenholm with a back-door pass to tie the game 3-3.
Burns was not finished there and just a few minutes later he put another shot from the left side faceoff dot in the top shelf past Ruccia for his second of the night to make it 4-3.
The goal would stand as the game winner as the Sea Dogs killed the remaining 1:23 on the clock.
Final shots were 40-35 for the Sea Dogs.
Alpine 3 Stars
1 Brady Burns (2G 1A)
2 Cam MacDonald (1G 1A)
3 Charles Boutin (1G 1A)
The Sea Dogs and Eagles play for the third and final time this week tomorrow night at TD Station in the last game for Saint John before the holiday break. Puck drop is 7 PM and you can purchase tickets at the TD Station Box Office or online.
Looking for the perfect present? Holiday Packs, which include six flex tickets and your choice of a t-shirt or a pet pack, are available at the TD Station Box Office now!
New Year's Eve is right around the corner! You don't want to miss the special 2 PM start time with performances by Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute Act during both intermissions! Tickets are available now.
Images from this story
 Saint John Sea Dogs centre Connor Trenholm in front of the Cape Breton Eagles net |
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2022
- Cats Continue Hot December Run, Upending Titan 7-3 - Moncton Wildcats
- 20th Win of the Season for the Moose - Halifax Mooseheads
- Late Game Push Propels Sea Dogs Past Eagles in 4-3 Win - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Late Goal Gives Sea Dogs Win over Eagles - Cape Breton Eagles
- Islanders Host Minor Hockey Jamboree - Charlottetown Islanders
- QMJHL Holiday Break: Midseason Review - Charlottetown Islanders
- QMJHL Commissioner Gilles Courteau Announces Retirement After 47 Years - QMJHL
- Final Home Game of 2022 Tonight 7pm - Halifax Mooseheads
- Eagles in Saint John to Kick off Final Weekend of First Half - Cape Breton Eagles
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