Ryan Francis Scores in First Return to Cape Breton
April 1, 2022 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
Saint John Sea Dogs centre Ryan Francis (left) vs. the Cape Breton Eagles
(Saint John Sea Dogs)
The Saint John Sea Dogs (34-17-1-3) won a penalty laden game against the Cape Breton Eagles (13-33-4-3) on Friday night. The Sea Dogs killed eight of their nine penalties in Cape Breton in the 3-2 shootout win. Charlie DesRoches opened the scoring and Ryan Francis netted one against his former team, while former Sea Dog Nicholas Girouard scored both goals for Cape Breton.
Nikolas Hurtubise got the start in Cape Breton, stopping 31 of the Eagles' 33 shots in the win. Remi Delafontaine earned third star in his start for Cape Breton, making 36 saves on 38 shots.
A holding penalty sent Cam MacDonald to the box 2:02 into the game. The Sea Dogs opened the scoring short handed with one second remaining in the penalty kill, Charlie DesRoches finding the back of the net after picking up a loose puck in front.
Former Sea Dog Nicholas Girouard scored midway through the period to tie the game up.
At 11:37, Olivier Picard and Lucas Canning dropped the gloves at centre ice, both receiving five for fighting and a misconduct for a staged fight.
At 16:10, Ryan Francis hit the back of the net against his former team, and the Sea Dogs went into the second period up 2-1.
Shots after the first were 12-8 for Cape Breton.
A handful of penalties were exchanged in the second frame, but all but one were successfully killed. Nicholas Girouard scored the only goal of the period on a power play, his 15th of the season and second of the night.
Shots after the second were 21-19 for Cape Breton.
Three more penalties to the Sea Dogs in the third brought Cape Breton up to 9 power play opportunities on the night. All three were killed and the maritime rivals went to overtime to decide the winner of the matchup.
The extra time was not enough and the teams went to a shootout to determine the winner. Philippe Daoust and William Dufour both scored on their shootout attempts and Nikolas Hurtubise stopped both Eagles attempts, winning the game 3-2 for Saint John.
Final shots were 38-33 for Saint John.
Alpine 3 Stars
1 Nicholas Girouard (2G)
2 Philippe Daoust
3 Remi Delafontaine (36 Saves)
The Sea Dogs will play the Eagles again tomorrow 3 PM. Follow the action for all three games from home by listening to the game live on Sea Dogs Radio Presented By TD on CFBC 930AM.
Images from this story
 Saint John Sea Dogs centre Ryan Francis (left) vs. the Cape Breton Eagles |
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2022
- Sea Dogs Edge Eagles in Shootout at the Nest - Cape Breton Eagles
- Ryan Francis Scores in First Return to Cape Breton - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Sea Dogs at Eagles: Today at 7:00 PM - Saint John Sea Dogs
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