Rocket down Sea Dogs 5-3
Published on February 28, 2009 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI --- The Saint John Sea Dogs suffered a regulation loss versus the Prince Edward Island Rocket for the first time in nearly two years on Saturday night, falling by a score of 5-3 at the Charlottetown Civic Centre.
The last time the Rocket defeated the Sea Dogs in regulation was in a 3-0 win at Harbour Station on March 4, 2007.
Saint John built a 3-2 lead up over the course of the opening forty minutes of play on Saturday, with a three goal outburst by P.E.I. in the third period ultimately delivering the hosts to victory.
Benjamin Casavant (3), Michael Snow, and Maxime Levesque all scored for the Rocket in the come-from-behind home win, while Michael Kirkpatrick, Nicolas Pard, and Nathan Beaulieu replied for the Sea Dogs.
Robert Mayer made 45 saves in a losing effort for the visiting squad from south western New Brunswick, earning Third Star of the Game honours in recognition of his solid performance between the pipes. Bobby Nadeau, meanwhile, picked up the win in net for the Rocket, turning aside 29 of the 32 shots sent his way to improve his 2008-09 record to 20-30.
Both teams opened the match tentatively, with each side registering just one shot on goal apiece over the course of the opening five minutes of play.
The Sea Dogs were then awarded the evening's first power play 6:03 into the first period when Jordan Southorn was called for tripping. P.E.I. emerged victorious from the contest's initial special teams showdown however, killing off the penalty to keep things all square on the scoreboard.
Several more penalties were called throughout the duration of the opening frame, with neither team managing to capitalize on their respective man-up opportunities. The score thusly remained deadlocked at zeroes as the match reached the twenty minute mark.
The visitors went up 1-0 at the 3:25 mark of the second period when a low point shot off the stick of rookie defenseman Nathan Beaulieu found its way across the Rocket goal line. Josh Schram and Stephen MacAulay both picked up assists on Beaulieu's tally, the second of his career.
Nicolas Pard then doubled Saint John's lead 52 seconds later, electing to shoot on a breakaway and beating Nadeau high, glove side in netting the seventh goal of his season.
A scramble-ending offensive strike by Michael Snow then cut the Sea Dogs' lead in half, as the Rocket finally managed to get the puck past Mayer on their 29th shot of the game.
The home team produced the equalizer eight minutes later, as Benjamin Casavant buried his 35th goal during a four-on-four session after taking a feed from Christopher Guay in Saint John territory and making a spectacular deking manoeuvre in front of Saint John's net.
Shortly after Robert Mayer came up with a huge save off of New York Rangers prospect Chris Doyle in the 35th minute of play, Michael Kirkpatrick deflected a fluttering Simon Després point shot to the back of P.E.I.'s net to give the Sea Dogs a 3-2 lead, which was how the score remained as the second intermission was arrived upon.
Benjamin Casavant re-tied the match early in the third period, banging home a rebound produced by a Maxime Levesque shot to record his second goal of the night.
The Rocket went on their fifth power play of the game at the 15:02 mark of regulation's final frame when Benjamin Lecomte received a two-minute sentence in the penalty box for tripping. While the home team was unable to capitalize on their late-match numerical advantage, they were able to pull ahead shortly after Lecomte's penalty expired, with Casavant putting the finishing touches on a hat trick in giving his team their first lead of the match.
An empty-net goal by Maxime Levesque sealed the deal for the Rocket, who pick up their first win of the year versus the Sea Dogs by virtue of Saturday's 5-3 final score.
These two teams will meet again on Wednesday night at Harbour Station. Tickets to this 7pm tilt between divisional rivals can be obtained by calling the arena box office at (506) 657-1234.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2009
- Rocket down Sea Dogs 5-3 - Saint John Sea Dogs
- PEI Rocket Announce First Annual Skills Competition - P.E.I. Rocket
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