Sea Dogs Defeat Fog Devils 4-1
Published on November 27, 2007 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
SAINT JOHN, NB --- One month to the day after earning an improbable come-from-behind win over the St. John's Fog Devils at Harbour Station, the Saint John Sea Dogs were able to vanquish their expansion cousins in a much more subdued fashion on Tuesday night, scoring the first three goals of the game prior to cruising to a relatively easy 4-1 victory on their home ice.
Twenty-six months to the day after registering his first career QMJHL win (as a member of the MAINEiacs and coincidentally against St. John's), veteran Sea Dogs goaltender Travis Fullerton earned his tenth with of the year for Saint John, making 34 saves to set a career-high for victories in a season.
"Travis played exceptionally well for us out there tonight," said Head Coach/General Manager Jacques Beaulieu following the three-goal victory. "We did a good job of limiting their chances, but whenever they did get a look at the net our goaltender was there to turn them away. This was a good win for us and we're definitely looking forward to our game on Saturday against the Mooseheads."
Alex Grant, Chris DiDomenico, Alexandre Leduc, and Jeff McNeil all scored for Saint John in the win, while Mario Kempe provided the Fog Devils' only goal of the night in a losing effort.
The Sea Dogs drew first blood on Tuesday, with Scott Howes setting up Chris DiDomenico for a tap-in power play marker midway through the first period. Ryan Sparling also picked up an assist on the play, which earned Saint John an early one-goal advantage.
DiDomenico's goal, his league-leading 24th, proved to be the lone tally of the opening frame, as both Fullerton (9 saves) and St. John's' Timo Pielmeier (10 saves) performed well between the pipes for their respective teams throughout the opening twenty minutes of play.
Jeff McNeil then put the home team up by two 5:35 into the second period, firing a snap shot from just inside the blue line that ricocheted off of a pair of Fog Devils on its way to the back of the net, earning the 19-year old defenseman his first goal of the season.
With 8:23 remaining in the middle frame, St. John's was awarded a 5-on-3 power play when Yann Sauve incurred a two-minute minor for delay of game 0:51 into a penalty kill. The Fog Devils were unable to capitalize on their double-PP opportunity however, with their best chance coming in the form of a close-range shot by Luke Adam that was turned aside by Fullerton, who thwarted the centre's scoring attempt with a lightning-fast left pad, keeping the visitors off the scoreboard in the process.
Very shortly after Sauve's penalty had expired, Alexandre Leduc put the Sea Dogs up 3-0, banking the puck in off of a St. John's defenseman's skate on a fortuitous passing attempt from the corner.
The Fog Devils scored their first goal of the night 10:45 into the third period, with Mario Kempe putting an end to Fullerton's shutout bid with his 14th tally of the season.
That would be as close as St. John's would get however, as some stellar goaltending from Fullerton in the late going in conjunction with an empty net goal off the stick of Alex Grant combined to make the final score SEA DOGS 4 - FOG DEVILS 1.
Up next for Saint John is a huge divisional showdown with the Halifax Mooseheads on Saturday, December 1 at Harbour Station. The Mooseheads are currently ranked first in the QMJHL East with a record of 20-4-0-4.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from November 27, 2007
- Sea Dogs Defeat Fog Devils 4-1 - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Dupont named ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week - QMJHL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
