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QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Maineiacs Hand Sea Dogs 3-1 Loss

March 4, 2008 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


LEWISTON, ME --- The Lewiston MAINEiacs evened their season series with the Saint John Sea Dogs at four wins apiece on Tuesday night, earning a 3-1 victory at Androscoggin Bank Coliseum in the final regular season match-up between the two divisional rivals.

Star goaltender Jonathan Bernier turned in a strong performance between the pipes for Lewiston, making 34 saves to improve his 2007-08 record to 16-13. Meanwhile, overage net minder Travis Fullerton suffered the loss in goal for Saint John, surrendering a trio of goals on 27 shots faced.

The MAINEiacs were led offensively by Chris Tutalo and Lucas LaBelle, who each registered 1G-1A-2P on Tuesday. Stefan Chaput scored Lewiston's other goal, which came on the power play late in the opening frame.

The lone Sea Dogs marker was tallied by 19-year old winger Ryan Sparling, who now has 27 goals on the season.

Saint John falls to 38-21-3-3 following Tuesday's hard-fought road loss, while Lewiston improves to 35-24-4-2 with the win.

The visitors were awarded the game's first power play chance 5:30 into the first period when MAINEiacs defenseman Denis Reul was assessed a two-minute minor for hooking after hauling down Ryan Sparling in a most unsubtle manner. Scott Howes came incredibly close to giving Saint John the lead during the 120 second five-on-four session, one-timing a Chris DiDomenico pass from point-blank range that Bernier somehow managed to get a pad on to keep the score knotted at zeroes.

Ten minutes later, the host squad received their first power play chance of the night; the MAINEiacs were able to capitalize on their numerical advantage, as Stefan Chaput grabbed a rebound at the side of the net after Michael Ward's shot from the slot was stopped by Fullerton and shovelled the puck to the back of the Sea Dogs' net, giving his team a 1-0 lead on the strength of the 19-year old centre's 29th goal of the season.

Lewiston then went up 2-0 when Chris Tutalo took a pass from Lucas LaBelle in the slot and wired a snap shot past Fullerton 2:17 into the second period.

Play took a turn for the physical from there, as a multi-player scrum erupted after David Stich administered a bone-crunching body check upon Marc Bourgeois midway through the middle frame. Several penalties were handed out by officials following the lengthy scuffle, including a game-misconduct for Bourgeois and multiple majors.

The Sea Dogs then peppered Bernier with shots throughout the second half of the period but were unable to get anything past the Los Angeles Kings prospect, as Tuesday night's contest reached the forty minute mark with the home team leading 2-0.

Ryan Sparling finally beat Bernier 3:02 into the third period, taking the puck along the boards in Lewiston's zone and skating to mid-ice prior to ripping a wrist shot to the back of the MAINEiacs net, cutting the hosts' lead to one on the 25th shot on goal of the night for the Sea Dogs.

A hard, high slap shot off the stick of Lucas LaBelle from just inside the Sea Dogs blue line then restored the two-goal Lewiston advantage, as Fullerton was unable to get a glove on the fast-moving puck which put the home team up 3-1 upon its successful breaching of the Saint John goal line.

Despite the application of some intense pressure in the home team's zone by the Sea Dogs' hard-working forwards in the closing minutes of play, the visitors were unable to cut into the MAINEiacs' lead, and the final buzzer sounded on Tuesday with Lewiston having earned two big points at the expense of Port City's major junior squad.

Up next for Saint John is a pair of weekend road contests versus the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles at Centre 200. The Sea Dogs' next home game is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, March 12 against the PEI Rocket.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2008


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