Marco Cousineau Makes 23 Saves in Hard-Fought Home Win
Published on January 8, 2010 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
SAINT JOHN, NB --- The Saint John Sea Dogs came out on the winning end of a highly-entertaining hockey game on Friday night, earning a 3-1 victory over the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles at Harbour Station in improving to 35-7-1-0 on the season. Cape Breton, meanwhile, falls to 24-15-2-3 with the hard-fought road loss.
Saint John went 2-for-5 on the power play and 6-for-6 on the penalty kill on Friday, taking the special teams showdown in decisive fashion. Both teams played with brash physicality throughout the match, with the Sea Dogs' defence turning in one of their most impressive performances of the season against a talented Cape Breton squad.
Mike Hoffman, Zack Phillips, and Tomas Jurco all scored for the home team in Friday's win, while Cory MacIntosh tallied the lone marker of the night for the visitors.
Overage goaltender Marco Cousineau picked up his second win as a Sea Dog, turning aside 23 of the 24 shots sent his way by Screaming Eagles skaters. At the other end of the ice, Edmonton Oilers prospect Olivier Roy suffered the 43rd loss of his career in net for Cape Breton after allowing three goals on 28 shots faced.
Saint John jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on Friday when a crease-hovering Tomas Jurco beat Roy through the five-hole after being set up perfectly by a streaking Simon Després. Michael Kirkpatrick picked up the secondary assist on Jurco's man-up marker, which came in the fifth minute of play.
A pair of spirited scraps then took place at centre ice four minutes later, with hulking winger Will Johnston winning his first QMJHL bout by knockout over heavyweight veteran Kalin Paul. Mike Thomas and Ashton Bernard then squared off in a quick fight, with the brief altercation ending in a draw.
Superstar forward Mike Hoffman doubled the hosts' lead 6:09 into the second period, blasting a point shot past Olivier Roy's glove hand to tally his 28th goal of 2009-10. Nathan Beaulieu and Michael Kirkpatrick both registered helpers on the power play strike.
Cory MacIntosh pulled the visitors to within one of their opponents five minutes later, finishing off an odd-man rush by netting the fourth goal of his season. Marco Cousineau came up with a huge save a moment later, stymieing Viktor Hertzberg on a breakaway to both keep his team ahead on the scoreboard and neutralize the visitors' surging momentum.
A sensational, highlight-reel marker off the stick of rookie winger Zack Phillips then restored the Sea Dogs' two-goal late in the middle frame. The 17-year old Frederictonian carried the puck into Screaming Eagles territory prior to stick-handling through the slot, around a pair of defenders, and ripping a wrist shot to the back of Cape Breton's net to send Friday's intradivisional clash into the second intermission with the home team owning a 3-1 advantage.
The third period saw several bone-crunching body checks being administered at either end of the ice, with a playoff atmosphere enveloping Harbour Station as the divisional rivals' mutual combativeness kicked into high gear. Neither team was able to add to their respective goal totals during the up-tempo stanza however, with Saint John ultimately taking the decision by a 3-1 final.
Up next for the Port City's major junior squad is a Saturday night showdown with the Montreal Juniors at Harbour Station. The puck drops at 7pm as the Sea Dogs seek to even their season series with their expansion cousins. Tickets to this contest are available by calling the arena box office at (506) 657-1234.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2010
- Marco Cousineau Makes 23 Saves in Hard-Fought Home Win - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Juniors top Mooseheads 4 to 1 - Montreal Juniors
- Substantial attendance increases in Quebec and Shawinigan - QMJHL
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