Saint Johner Scores Shootout Winner
Published on December 30, 2011 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to the Prince Edward Island Rocket Friday, with Port City native Matthew Bursey notching the shootout winner.
Aidan Kelly, Stehpen MacAulay and Charles Roussel scored for the Sea Dogs, who led 3-2 into the final two seconds of regulation time.
But Josh Currie's buzzer-beater gave the Rocket another life, and they took advantage by picking up the extra point in the shootout. Jessyko Bernard and Ben Duffy had a goal and an assist each for P.E.I. and Maxime Lagace made 33 saves for the win as the Rocket improved to 10-25-2-2.
Sebastien Auger stopped 20 shots for the Sea Dogs, who fell to 28-11-0-2.
Click HERE to view a complete scoresheet from Friday's game. For interviews and highlights, visit Sea Dogs TV, the team's official YouTube channel .
P.E.I. took the early lead when Bernard somehow knocked the puck in from a scramble at 2:01.
The Rocket held the one-goal margin into the second, but the Sea Dogs came out flying. Danny Chiasson, the newest Sea Dog, had a breakaway chance denied 1:48 into the middle frame. He took a long stretch pass from Kevin Gagne, raced in behind the defence and deked to his backhand, but couldn't beat Lagace. Off the ensuing faceoff, Grant West rang a shot off the post and raised his arms in celebration thinking it was in, but P.E.I. again dodged the bullet. West had another outstanding chance later the same shift, walking out from behind the net, but Lagace stopped him cold, then recovered in time to deny Pierre Durepos racing in from the point to bury the rebound.
Kelly tied it with his seventh of the season at 4:13 of the second. The 18-year-old Saint John native cut inside on a defender on the right wing, and roofed a wrist shot from the slot that beat Lagace high to the glove side. It was a good night all around for Saint Johners, as Kelly was named first star. Jason Seed and Ian Saab picked up the assists, with Chiasson contributing by driving hard to the net and taking a defender with him.
Things got physical when West and Alex Gallant dropped the gloves and exchanged several blows in a stand-up tilt at centre ice 5:34 into the frame.
MacAulay then gave the Dogs the lead at 11:55 when he hustled to a rebound and threw a high wrist shot through a forest of bodies and in to the top corner for his 10th. Again Chiasson was parked in front, absorbing a cross-check from Oligny, and this time he received an assist, along with Danick Gauthier.
Chaisson had another chance at a goal, after a great effort by Gagne to hold the puck in at the blueline and get it down low to MacAulay, but Chiasson couldn't find the handle on MacAulay's quick pass out front. The 19-year-old forward from Edmundston was named third star for his efforts.
Second star Duffy equalized at 16:08 of the second, firing a shot from the top of the left-wing circle that found its way through a crowd.
Auger made a nice save late in the second on Victor Provencher. After a bad bounce off Gagne's skate gave Provencher a gift in front, Auger stayed with him, extending his left leg, and flashing the glove to keep the game tied.
The Sea Dogs jumped back in the lead on Roussel's goal 1:11 in to the third. Saint John controlled in the offensive zone 5-on-5 as though on a power play, setting up Roussel's wrist shot from the top of the right-wing circle. The overage defenceman tucked it just inside the opposite post for his ninth of the season, with assists from Gagne and Stephen Anderson.
The Dogs held that 3-2 lead into the dying seconds, when Bernard swatted a puck down in front with his glove and it came to Currie, who deposited it to send the game to overtime.
After overtime solved nothing, Gauthier opened the shootout with a goal, defeking to his forehand and putting it upstairs to Lagace's blocker side. But a goal by Bernard, coupled with misses by Anderson and Zack Phillips, put the game on Bursey's stick. The hometown boy delivered a top corner shot to the delight of his teammates and a substantial cheering section.
Next up for the Dogs is the annual New Year's Rivalry Cup series against Moncton. The Sea Dogs visit Moncton Saturday for a 4 p.m. New Year's Eve start. This year's game in Saint John is set for 7 p.m. Monday, and there will be a special food drive for the Community Food Basket. Saint John's donations will be measured against those gathered Saturday in Moncton. The city donating the most food by weight will earn three extra points in the Brunswick News Rivalry Cup.
Tickets to all second-half home games are available at the Harbour Station box office, by calling 506-657-1234 or online at www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2011
- Saint Johner Scores Shootout Winner - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Castonguay traded to Val-d'Or - Gatineau Olympiques
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