Sea Dogs edge Majors
May 20, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - The Saint John Sea Dogs won in their first-ever appearance at the MasterCard Memorial Cup, taking a 4-3 decision over the host Mississauga St. Michael's Majors.
Michael Kirkpatrick led the way with a goal and two assists, Jonathan Huberdeau and Nathan Beaulieu had a goal and an assist each, and Tomas Jurco also scored for Saint John. Jacob DeSerres made 24 saves, many of them stellar, as Saint John won the opening game of the four-team round-robin.
Casey Cizikas had two goals for Mississauga and Devante Smith-Pelly tallied a gaol and two helpers. JP Anderson made 31 saves in the loss before a crowd 5,429 at Hershey Centre.
The national major junior championship tournament runs through May 29 in Mississauga. Saint John's next game is Monday against the Ontario League champion Owen Sound Attack, an 8 p.m. Atlantic Time start. Tim Roszell will have the call on News 88.9 FM. The games will also be televised nationally by Rogers Sportsnet.
Jurco scored the first Memorial Cup goal in Sea Dogs history at 1:44 of the first period. After DeSerres made a big save on a Cizikas slap shot from the left wing, Jurco took a feed from Galiev and went in on a breakaway. The slick Slovakian's deke to the backhand went through Anderson's five-hole to give the Dogs a 1-0 lead.
The Majors equalized when Cizikas converted a Stuart Percy rebound at 7:07. They then took the lead at 13:55 when Smith-Pelly deflected a Percy shot on the power play.
The Sea Dogs used a power play of their own to even things up, as Kirkpatrick wound up a big wrist shot from the right-wing faceoff dot with Huberdeau screening in front. Huberdeau was able to get just enough of the puck to redirect it past Anderson and make it 2-2.
Sea Dogs captain Mike Thomas nearly scored after a great effort in the fifth minute of the second, stealing a puck down low, getting a dangerous shot on, then corralling the rebound for a wraparound attempt to set up a faceoff to the right of Anderson.
The Dogs took the lead on Kirkpatrick's power play goal at 6:58 of the second after Percy took an undisciplined roughing penalty. Simon Despres started the scoring play by fighting the puck down low, then Huberdeau picked it up in the right-wing corner, walked out from Anderson's left and found Kirkpatrick in front. The pass was partially broken up, but the overager got enough of it to wire it home.
DeSerres was solid throughout the second period, stopping all 12 shots he faced. He survived a couple of goalmouth scrambles, and made a big blocker save on Flemming's shot from the right wing on a 3-on-1 with about six minutes to go in the frame. Another highlight was his left pad save on Joseph Cramaraossa's walkout with just under four minutes remaining.
The Dogs survived a 5-on-3 power play for the Majors early in the third, as Stephen MacAulay, Despres and Pierre Durepos turned in some great penalty killing, with help from Beaulieu, Kevin Gagne, Kirkpatrick and Thomas. DeSerres also delivered, getting enough glove on a Flemming chance to knock it away. DeSerres made another nice save in the eighth minute of the third, getting across to kick out a Chris DeSousa shot with his left pad.
Saint John found an insurance marker on the power play shortly thereafter. Kirkpatrick dished a backhand pass from the slot to Huberdeau on the right wing. Huberdeau made a move to the net, then as Anderson committed, he found Beaulieu jumping into the rush for the finish to make it 4-2 at the eight-minute mark.
The Majors got back within one when Cizikas beat DeSerres on a power play of their own 33 seconds later.
Mississauga then got another man advantage but couldn't convert. Smith-Pelly had a great chance to tie early in the power play as he jammed away in a scramble to the right of DeSerres, but the Saint John goaltender slammed the door. Flick had a rebound chance later in the man advantage but put it off the side of the net.
The Dogs had a 5-on-3 power play late in the third but couldn't convert. Zack Phillips had a chance to Anderson's right but just misfired, while Eric Gelinas fired a shot from the high slot just over the net.
The Dogs survived a couple of scares, first when Cizikas fired a shot off the back boards with about two minutes to go, and it squirted back through the legs of DeSerres. Cizikas had another chance to tie in the dying seconds to the left of DeSerres, but the overage goalie got down in the splits to make the game-saving stop.
Eastern League Stories from May 20, 2011
- Brian Matusz To Pitch For The Baysox Saturday Night - Chesapeake Baysox
- Richmond Takes Opener in Reading - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Sea Dogs edge Majors - Portland Sea Dogs
- Johnson Stuns SeaWolves - Chesapeake Baysox
- Two Errors Hand Trenton 3-1 Win - Portland Sea Dogs
- Betances' Effort Enough in Thunder 3-1 Win - Trenton Thunder
- Henderson Alvarez Wins EL Debut For Fisher Cats - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- 'Wolves Drop Series Opener to Baysox - Erie SeaWolves
- Rock Cats come up short, 6-2 - New Britain Rock Cats
- Aeros Fall To Curve, 2-0 - Akron RubberDucks
- Curve shut out Aeros - Altoona Curve
- Senators and Binghamton Mets Postponed on Friday in New York - Harrisburg Senators
- Rain Forces B-Mets Postponement - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Erie SeaWolves at Bowie Baysox - Game One of Three - Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
- Akron Aeros Upcoming Eight Game Homestand - May 23-30th - Full of Fun - Akron RubberDucks
- Richmond Flying Squirrels Game Notes - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- OF Kyle Hudson Transferred to Norfolk; IF Buck Britton to Bowie - Chesapeake Baysox
- Sea Dogs Longest Homestand of the Season Packs a Promotional Punch - Portland Sea Dogs
- Two Southpaws On The Move - New Britain Rock Cats
- Orioles LHP Brian Matusz Assigned to Bowie - Chesapeake Baysox
- Baysox Host Food Allergy Awareness Event - Chesapeake Baysox
- Baysox Squeak Past Squirrels - Chesapeake Baysox
- 16 Not So Sweet for Squirrels, Bowie Grabs Marathon, 3-2 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
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.
