Sea Dogs Win 5-4 In Halifax
Published on November 25, 2008 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
HALIFAX, NS --- The Saint John Sea Dogs were once again able to produce a dramatic come-from-behind victory on Tuesday night, earning a 5-4 shootout win at the expense of the Halifax Moosehead to record their fourth such triumph of the past two weeks.
Halifax led 4-2 early in the third period, but two late goals by Saint John forced overtime, which was ultimately unable to determine a victor. In the post-OT shootout, Team Captain Alex Grant scored the lone goal for either side as the Sea Dogs captured the ever-important extra point, improving their record to 17-10-1-1 in doing so.
Saint John has now won five straight games away from Harbour Station, a franchise record.
Second-year centre Michael Kirkpatrick continued his red-hot play on Tuesday, registering 2G-2A-4P to earn First Star of the Game Honours at the Metro Centre. The North Sydney, NS native has now tallied 6G-3A-9P in his last three matches.
Veteran forwards Chris DiDomenico and Ryan Sparling also scored for Saint John in the gritty road win, while Robert Mayer made 32 saves between the pipes for the Sea Dogs over the course of 3.25 periods prior to going 3-for-3 in the shootout to earn his 15th win of the year - one shy of his total from his rookie season of 2007-08.
Meanwhile, the Mooseheads received quantitative offensive production from Yuri Cheremetiev (2), Graham Bona, and Gerrad Grant. Halifax goalie Mathieu Corbeil made 29 saves in a losing effort for the home team.
Saint John was awarded the game's first power play when Jessyko Bernard was called for checking-from-behind 4:07 into the opening frame. The Sea Dogs produced several high-quality scoring chances during their initial man-up session of the night, but some solid work by Corbeil prevented the Port City's major junior squad from converting on the early five-on-four opportunity.
After several minutes of fast-paced back-and-forth action, the visitors were able to break the scoreless tie in the 15th minute of play on yet another highlight-reel goal by reigning QMJHL Offensive Player of the Week Michael Kirkpatrick. The 18-year old forward took a pass from David Stich in neutral territory and burst through a pair of Halifax defensemen prior to beating Corbeil on a nifty forehand-backhand deke to register his 17th goal of the season.
The Mooseheads produced the tying goal early in period number two, as import centre Yuri Cheremetiev beat Mayer through the five-hole to record a man-up tally just 0:21 into the central stanza. Four minutes later, superstar Sea Dogs centre Chris DiDomenico put the visitors back on top, burying a rebound produced by an Alex Grant shot to record his ninth goal of the year.
Gerrad Grant then re-tied the match at two apiece 10:57 into the middle frame, firing a high wrist shot past Mayer's outstretched glove to improve his 2008-09 goals total to four. Five minutes later, the Mooseheads took a 3-2 lead courtesy of a booming slap shot off the stick of Graham Bona. The overage defenseman's power play goal proved to be the final marker of the period, as Tuesday's match reached the forty minute mark with the hosts leading by one.
Halifax took a 4-2 lead early in the third period, as Yuri Chermetiev wired a wrist shot to the back of Saint John's net to tally his second PPG of the night.
At the 4:17 mark of regulation's final frame, Michael Kirkpatrick netted his second marker of the match, beating Corbeil cleanly on a high shot to both pull his team back to within immediate striking distance of the Mooseheads and move into a tie with Baie-Comeau winger Guillaume Goulet for third place on the QMJHL goal scoring list with 18.
Saint John's defensive special teams unit came up with a huge penalty kill midway through the third period, preserving the legitimacy of their potential comeback bid in the process.
With 3:47 remaining in the third, overage winger Ryan Sparling tied things up at four apiece, ripping a wrist shot over Corbeil's shoulder to record his tenth marker of the 08-09 campaign and necessitate an extra frame in the intra-divisional clash.
After five-minutes of overtime solved nothing, the Sea Dogs and Mooseheads entered a shootout to determine a winner in the Tuesday night tussle.
Robert Mayer denied all three Halifax shooters he faced in the breakaway contest, while Alex Grant netted a goal on a sharp backhand to lead Saint John to victory.
Up next for the Sea Dogs is a thee-game trek through the province of Quebec. Saint John will face the Oceanic, Remparts, and Voltigeurs this coming weekend as they seek to continue their winning ways on the road.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from November 25, 2008
- Sea Dogs Win 5-4 In Halifax - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Paige traded to Gatineau - QMJHL
- QMJHL names its scholastic players of the month - QMJHL
- Three Sea Dogs Players Named To Team Atlantic For 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge - Saint John Sea Dogs
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