Sea Dogs Edge Eagles in Shootout at the Nest

April 1, 2022 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release

SYDNEY - The Cape Breton Eagles battled back twice but settled for a point in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The Eagles had ample opportunity on the man advantage throughout the night in what would be one of the key stories to the game. The first power play came just after the two minute mark, with Cam MacDonald being sent off, but the Sea Dogs killed off the penalty- and as it ticked down cashed in with a short handed goal on a corner snipe by Charlie DesRoches.

The teams traded goals before period's end. Nicholas Girouard got the Eagles on the board, taking advantage when Nikolas Hurtubise wasn't fully settled after playing the puck coming out of the net. Girouard put it on net from the sideboards and the puck bounced by the Saint John goalkeeper. The Dogs re claimed the lead when former Eagle Ryan Francis, making his return to Centre 200, put a precise shot over the shoulder of Rémi Delafontaine.

Between Girouard & Francis goals, there were fireworks as Saint John's Olivier Picard and Cape Breton's Lucas Canning squared off for a brief fight that saw Picard land the lone punch. The officials declared it a staged fight and both players were given game misconducts.

The teams began the second period four on four, which created plenty of open ice when Saint John's William Dufour was given a double minor. The Eagles scored just 15 seconds into the 4 on 3, and still had more than three minutes of power play time as the power play goal negated the first penalty to William Villeneuve, and not the Dufour minor. However, the Eagles couldn't capitalize on the prolonged power play.

There were no goals, or penalties, to be found in the first 14 minutes of the third stanza. But with less than six minutes to play, the Sea Dogs killed off a penalty to Josh Lawrence, and then a bench minor after the Sea Dogs staff disputed an offside kill. During the second of those two power plays, the Eagles called a timeout to diagram a go ahead goal but couldn't get it past Hurtubise.

Not longer after the bench minor was killed, Philippe Daoust raced in on a breakway but was denied by Delafontaine. However, in the process he was whistled for goaltender interference. WIth the top power play unit having played substantial time in the previous minutes and with the timeout already used, the Eagles began with the second power play unit. They were unable to score and the game headed to overtime, with the Daoust penalty carrying over.

The Eagles couldn't score on the power play but both teams produced significant chances in the extra session, combining for 11 shots. Delafaontaine and Hurtubise couldn't be beaten and the game headed to a shootout.

Daoust shot first, and showed great patience outwaiting Delafontaine to put the visitors on the board. The Eagles failed to equalize when Sean Larcohelle fanned on his shot, losing the puck in built up snow on the ice.

Saint John was really in the drivers' seat when Dufour hammered a shot by Delafontaine, and Ivan Ivan was called upon to extend the game. He was unable to score and Saint John claimed a shootout victory.

Hurtubise picked up the win, stopping 31 of 33 shots. Delafontaine took the loss, turning aside 35 of 37 shots.

The same two teams will face off tomorrow afternoon at Centre 200 at 3 PM! Tickets can be purchased at https://www.ticketmaster.ca/cape-breton-eagles-tickets/artist/891825. They are also available for purchase in person at the Centre 200 box office and by the phone during box office hours at 902-564-2200

THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Nicholas Girouard (Cape Breton) 2 goals

2. Philippe Daoust (Saint John) Shootout goal, 1 hit

3. Rémi Delafontaine (Cape Breton) 35 saves on 37 shots

Scratches For Cape Breton: Nicolas Ruccia (lower body injury), Kian Bell (lower body injury), Romain Rodzinski (upper body injury), Matt MacDonald

Scratches For Saint John: Nicholas Blagden, Jacob Chantler (injury), Yan Kuznetsov (injury), Noah Patneaude (injury), Jérémie Poirier (injury)

Final Shots On Goal: 37-33 in favour of Saint John

Cape Breton Power Play: 1/9

Saint John Power Play: 0/1

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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