Saint John's Incredible Winning Streak Reaches Fourteen Games
Published on November 20, 2009 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
DRUMMONDVILLE, QC --- The Saint John Sea Dogs produced their biggest victory of the season in thrilling fashion on Friday night, skating into the Marcel Dionne Centre and handing the reigning President's Cup champion Drummondville Voltigeurs a 4-3 shootout loss to extend their franchise-record winning streak to 14 games.
There was no shortage of intensity in the hotly-anticipated showdown between the top two teams in the QMJHL, as sixty-five minutes of furious back-and-forth action produced a 3-3 deadlock. The Port City's major junior squad laid claim to victory by way of the post-overtime shootout, as freshman forward Tomas Jurco netted the skate-off game-winner in the penalty shot contest's decisive second round.
Jurco also scored in regulation for Saint John, as did Nick Petersen and Kevin Gagné. Drummondville's offence, meanwhile, came courtesy of Sean Couturier, Ryan McKiernan, and Gabriel Dumont.
Between the pipes, veteran Sea Dogs net minder Marc-Antoine Gélinas (36 saves, 2-for-2 in shootout) outdueled Voltigeurs goalie Frédéric Piché (24 saves, 0-for-2 in shootout) to pick up his 15th win of the year, tying him with Drummondville's Antoine Tardif for the league lead.
Saint John got off to a quick start on Friday, as import winger Tomas Jurco buried a rebound produced by a Steven Anthony shot in the second minute of play to give his team an early 1-0 lead. Marc-Antoine Gélinas came up with a sensational stop on the league's leading goal scorer a few minutes later, robbing Marc-Olivier Vachon from point-blank range with a sprawling glove save to keep the hosts off of the scoreboard.
The Sea Dogs then came up with a pair of impressive penalty kills, keeping Drummondville's star-laden offence in check as Jonathan Huberdeau and Michael Kirkpatrick served consecutive two-minute minors. Saint John came up empty on back-to-back power play chances of their own late in the opening frame, as Friday's match reached the twenty minute mark with the Sea Dogs in possession of a one-goal advantage.
Saint John's third man-up opportunity of the evening came early in the second period, as officials sentenced Gabriel Dumont to 120 seconds in the sin bin at the 25:01 mark of the match. This time around the Sea Dogs were able to capitalize on their numerical advantage, with sophomore defenseman Kevin Gagné wiring home his fourth goal of the year from the top of the right face-off circle to double the visitors' lead.
Drummondville pulled back to within one just 45 seconds later however, as American-born defenseman Ryan McKiernan one-timed his fourth career goal past Gélinas after being set up perfectly by Philippe Lefebvre immediately in front of Saint John's net at the end of an impressive down-ice rush by the Voltigeurs.
Saint John restored their two-goal lead midway through the second period on a great individual effort by overage winger Nick Petersen. The Pittsburgh Penguins prospect stole the puck from a Drummondville defenseman near the Sea Dogs blue line and proceeded to skate the length of the ice with pair of opposing players in hot pursuit; Petersen finished off the play by beating Piché on a low wrist shot to improve his 2009-10 goals total to 11.
The frantic seesaw-like battle produced another second period goal 1:32 later, with a crease-hovering Sean Couturier banging a loose puck to the back of Saint John's net during a Voltigeurs power play to once again reduce the home team's deficit to one.
After failing to convert on several prime scoring opportunities during a turbulent third period, Drummondville managed to net the tying goal with 3:39 remaining in the regulation on a tip-in power play marker off the stick of Gabriel Dumont. Sean Couturier and Ryan McKiernan both picked up assists on the drama-inducing offensive strike, which ultimately sent Friday's contest into sudden death overtime.
Five minutes of extra time failed to produce a decision in the incredibly-entertaining match, necessitating a winner-take-all shootout between the über-talented squads.
Marc-Antoine Gélinas stoned both Alexandre Comtois and Marc-Olivier Vachon in the opening rounds of the theatrical breakaway contest while Mike Hoffman and Tomas Jurco each found the back of the net on their chances, resultantly handing the decision to Saint John.
Friday's outcome means that the Sea Dogs (now 22-4-1-0) have opened up a five-point lead on the Voltigeurs (now 19-4-0-2) for the #1 spot in the league. These two teams will meet again at Harbour Station next Friday night at 7:30pm in what will assuredly be another highly-combative matchup between Memorial Cup contenders. Tickets to this contest are available by calling the arena box office at (506) 657-1234.
In the meantime, the Sea Dogs will wrap up their current two-game road trip on Sunday afternoon (5pm AST) at Lewiston's Androscoggin Bank Coliseum versus the 10-12-0-1 MAINEiacs.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from November 20, 2009
- Juniors win in a shootout 4 to 3 - Montreal Juniors
- Saint John's Incredible Winning Streak Reaches Fourteen Games - Saint John Sea Dogs
- League-Leading Sea Dogs Defeat Voltigeurs 4-3 In A Shootout - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Brannon Leads Cats To 5-4 Win Over Rocket / Brannon M=e8ne - Moncton Wildcats
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- QMJHL Announces Schedule Changes - QMJHL
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- The QMJHL names its Scholastic Players of the Month - QMJHL
- QMJHL Names Its Scholastic Players Of The - QMJHL
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