QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Seadogs Defeat Mooseheads 6-2 In Halifax

February 17, 2010 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


HALIFAX, NS --- Anaheim Ducks prospect Marco Cousineau earned his tenth consecutive victory between the pipes for the Saint John Sea Dogs on Wednesday night, making 41 saves in backstopping the #1 major junior team in Canada to a 6-2 road win over the Halifax Mooseheads.

Michael Kirkpatrick, Nathan Beaulieu, Mike Hoffman, Aidan Kelly, Stanislav Galiev, and Zack Phillips all scored for Saint John in the impressive, full-team effort. Phillips also dished out two assists on the evening in laying claim to First Star of the Game honours.

At the other end of the ice, Tomas Knotek and Charles Bety tallied markers for the home team, while sophomore goaltender Mathieu Corbeil (33 saves) suffered his 32nd defeat of the year.

The Sea Dogs opened the scoring late in the first period as Saint John minor hockey product Aidan Kelly one-timed a Zack Phillips pass to the back of the Mooseheads' net to record the first goal of his QMJHL career. Freshman forward Jonathan Huberdeau also picked up an assist on the well-orchestrated transition marker.

Halifax knotted the score up 1-1 at the 5:21 mark of period number two when Charles Bety banged home a rebound produced by a Konrad Abeltshauer shot to improve his 2009-10 goals total to a dozen. Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Nick Petersen came close to restoring the Sea Dogs' one-goal advantage a moment later, but Corbeil came up with a huge pad save to deny the overage winger on a semi-breakaway. Rugged blue-liner Christian Morin then got the better of Alex Lemieux during a spirited bout of fisticuffs as the intensity level at the Metro Centre was given a significant boost.

Import winger Stanislav Galiev put Saint John up 2-1 at the 11:04 mark of the middle frame, carrying the puck into the slot and firing a wrist shot past a badly-screened Corbeil to pick up the 15th goal of his rookie season. Zack Phillips and Nathan Beaulieu both drew helpers on Galiev's power play tally.

Jonathan Huberdeau was stymied on a breakaway by Corbeil late in the stanza, with the 18-year old net minder kicking out his right pad in robbing the speedy youngster of a goal. Marco Cousineau responded with a highlight-reel stop of his own shortly thereafter, making use of his dynamic athleticism to stone a loose-puck-hunting Travis Randell in spectacular fashion and send Wednesday's contest into the second intermission with his team ahead on the scoreboard 2-1.

Tomas Knotek retied the match up at two apiece 1:35 into the third period, finishing off a down-ice rush by beating Cousineau on a low snap shot to register his 24th offensive strike of the year. Zack Phillips replied for the guests just 22 seconds later, sneaking a nifty backhand shot past Corbeil from point-blank range to pick up his third point of the game.

A long-distance wrist shot off the stick of Nathan Beaulieu gave Saint John an insurance marker 3:15 into regulation's finale frame, with superstar sniper Mike Hoffman putting the Sea Dogs up by three 0:45 later on a hard backhander that made its way across the Mooseheads' goal line after encountering a traffic jam in front of the hosts' crease. Veteran centre Michael Kirkpatrick wrapped up the scoring in the 54th minute of play, putting the Port City's major junior squad up 6-2 after roofing a backhand shot over a sprawling Corbeil as he was falling to the ice on a play set up by a stellar corner pass from Hoffman.

Up next for the league-leading Sea Dogs (47-9-1-0) is a Saturday night showdown with the Cataractes at Harbour Station. The puck drops at 7pm as Saint John looks to avenge an early-season overtime loss to Shawinigan and earn a split in their season series with the Telus Central Division-dwelling squad. Tickets to this contest are available by calling the arena box office at (506) 657-1234 or by visiting www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from February 17, 2010


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