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QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Sea Dogs Double Up Titan 6-3

January 31, 2009 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


BATHURST, NB --- The Saint John Sea Dogs wrapped up their January schedule with a big win on Saturday night, skating into the K.C. Irving Regional Centre and handing the Acadie-Bathurst Titan a 6-3 loss.

Saint John set a team record by firing 53 shots upon Acadie-Bathurst goaltenders on the night, with Michael Kirkpatrick leading the way by registering seven SOG.

Kirkpatrick converted on one of his shots, with Steven Anthony (2), Mike Thomas, Payton Liske, and Benjamin Lecomte also scoring for the Sea Dogs in the decisive victory.

Meanwhile, between the pipes, rookie goaltender Karel St-Laurent turned aside 34 of the 37 shots sent his way in earning his sixth career win.

The Sea Dogs started out extremely strong on Saturday, recording 15 of the game's first 17 shots on goal as play took place almost exclusively in the Titan's zone throughout the opening half of the first period. Starting Acadie-Bathurst goalie Frédéic Piché was able to keep the puck out of the net during the early flurry of offensive pressure from Saint John however, as the score remained 0-0 midway through the opening frame.

Steven Anthony then broke the scoreless tie at the 12:47 mark of the first, beating Piché on a high backhand shot that soared past the Titan net minder's glove to give #16 sixteen goals on the season.

The home team responded four minutes later, as Vincent Lessard one-timed a feed from Jonathan Lassard to the back of Saint John's net to register his 19th goal of the 08-09 campaign.

Payton Liske restored the Sea Dogs' one-goal lead just 28 seconds later however, taking advantage of a turnover in the hosts' zone and ripping a high shot over Piché's shoulder.

A booming slap shot off the stick of defenseman Benjamin Lecomte then gave the visiting squad from the Port City a 3-1 advantage, as Piché was pulled late the first period. Nicolas Champion took over goaltending duties for the Titan following Lecomte's goal, which was assisted on by Simon Després

The first intermission was arrived upon with Saint John's two-goal lead in tact, a franchise record for shots on goal in a single period having been established (28) at Acadie-Bathurst's expense.

Mike Thomas gave the Sea Dogs a 4-1 lead early in the second period, finishing off a nifty passing play by wiring home his 11th career goal with Mathieu Gingras and Nicolas Pard each earning helpers on the even-strength marker.

The home team then struck on the power play, as Eric Faille danced around a pair of Sea Dogs defenseman prior to beating St-Laurent on a well-placed shot to make the 16th goal of his season of highlight-reel-calibre.

St-Laurent stoned Vincent Couture twice from point-blank range late in the middle frame, preserving his team's two-goal advantage as Saturday's Atlantic Division showdown reached the forty minute mark with the score 4-2 in favour of the visitors.

On the power play, Steven Anthony put Saint John back up by a field goal 1:13 into the third period, unloading a rocket of a point shot that beat Champion low to give the Haligonian his second tally of the evening. Anthony has now recorded six two-goal games this season.

Michael Kirkpatrick then finished off a tic-tac-toe passing play with a tap-in shot that went through Champion's pads to give the Sea Dogs a 6-2 advantage midway through regulation's final frame. Piché was re-installed in net for the Titan after the sixth goal of the evening for Saint John.

A late goal by Spencer Jezegou reduced the home team's deficit to three, but that would be as close as Acadie-Bathurst would get as the visitors cruised to victory from there on in, ultimately picking up two points on the strength of a 6-3 decision.

The Sea Dogs now return to Saint John where they will prepare to face the Rimouski Oceanic on Friday night at 7:30pm. Tickets to this game are available by calling the Harbour Station Box Office at (506) 657-1234.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from January 31, 2009


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