QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Sea Dogs top Wildcats after game postponed by snow; Huberdeau scores twice on way to 4-2 victory

January 28, 2011 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


MONCTON, N.B. - The Saint John Sea Dogs had to wait an extra day, but still came away with a 4-3 road win over the Moncton Wildcats Friday.

Jonathan Huberdeau led the way with two goals as the Sea Dogs continued their dominance of the provincial rivalry with a fifth win in as many meetings with Moncton. Zack Phillips had a goal and an assist, Simon Despres and Michael Kirkpatrick had two helpers each, and Nathan Beaulieu scored a single. Mathieu Corbeil stopped 25 shots for the win in the game, which was originally scheduled for Thursday but was postponed by snow.

Marek Hrivik and Ted Stephens had a goal and an assist each for the Wildcats and Simon Jodoin had the other Moncton goal, while Steve Gleeson made 28 saves in the loss.

The Dogs saw their record improve to 39-5-1-2 while the Cats dropped to 25-18-2-4.

Huberdeau, wearing a full cage as he recovers from a stick to the face suffered in Sunday's win over the Quebec Remparts, opened the scoring on a power play at 8:53 of the first period. The Sea Dogs peppered Gleeson with shots before Huberdeau picked up a rebound and put it in the back of the net. Kirkpatrick and Despres picked up the assists.

Sea Dogs forward Tomas Jurco was ejected for a hit to the head in the first period, putting the Wildcats on a five-minute power play. Moncton managed just one goal on the extended man advantage, when Jodoin deposited Brandon Gormley's rebound at 11:06 to make it 1-1.

Huberdeau got one right back short-handed at 14:50 on a two-on-one with Ryan Tesink, who timed his pass perfectly to set up Huberdeau's team-leading 29th goal. Despres had the other assist.

Hrivik tied it 2-2 at 9:56 of the second, but Phillips restored the lead at 11:06 with a deke that sent Gleeson and two defensemen sprawling across the ice. The unassisted goal was the 29th of the season for Phillips, who moved into a tie with Huberdeau for the team lead. Beaulieu extended the lead to 4-2 on another power play at 17:42, with assists going to Kirkpatrick and Phillips.

Moncton was determined to come back, pulling Gleeson with more than two minutes remaining, and Stephens got the Wildcats back within one at 18:15, jamming what appeared to be a frozen puck past Corbeil. The late marker made for some nailbiting moments, but the Sea Dogs held on for the win.

With the victory, the Sea Dogs earned three points in the Brunswick News Rivalry Cup, while the Wildcats picked up a point for the attendance of 4,741. Saint John now holds a 19-6 edge in the Rivalry Cup standings with three games and the EA Sports NHL 11 video game challenge remaining.

Saint John returns home for games Saturday (7 p.m.) and Sunday (4 p.m.) against the Baie-Comeau Drakkar (7-35-5-4). Sunday's game is Francofans Day, with live music from Tradition beginning at 3 p.m., and 4-for-$44 ticket packages available. Tickets can be obtained by calling the Harbour Station box office at (506) 657-1234, or by visiting www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2011


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