Simek Scores First QMJHL Goal in Loss to Moncton
October 22, 2022 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
Saint John Sea Dogs' Pavel Simek in action
(Saint John Sea Dogs)
Two Moncton goals in 17 seconds to start the third period was the difference as the Saint John Sea Dogs (2-6-0-0) dropped their fifth straight game 7-4 to the Moncton Wildcats (6-3-0-1) on Friday night.
The Sea Dogs goals came from Captain Charlie DesRoches in his return to the lineup after an injury, Pavel Simek's first QMJHL goal, Brady Burns, and Vincent Despont. Thomas Auger and Jonas Taibel each had a goal and an assist to lead the Wildcats to victory.
Nikolas Hurtubise made 27 saves for the Sea Dogs in his first start of the season. Vincent Filion made 25 stops to get the win in the Moncton crease.
The Sea Dogs got the games first chance just over two mins in as Cole Burbidge just missed the mark on a 2-on-1 break.
At 4:49 Vincent Labelle came close for the Wildcats, intercepting a Sea Dog breakout pass in the slot, but his shot was stopped by Hurtubise.
Burbidge came close again shortly after, cutting towards the Moncton net off the right wing and ringing a backhand shot off the post.
The Sea Dogs found the back of the net shortly after at 6:38 when Alexis Cournoyer hit Charlie DesRoches with a pass off the rush that the Sea Dogs captain fired past Filion for the 1-0 lead.
Pavel Simek added to the lead at 13:04, receiving a long stretch pass from Nico Laforge that he slipped five-hole on Filion for his first career QMJHL goal, putting the Sea Dogs up 2-0.
Moncton struck 1:24 later, as Hurtubise fanned on the puck as he tried to pass it up ice, accidentally putting it right on the stick of Charles Beaudoin who capitalized on the error to make it 2-1.
The Sea Dogs killed off a late period penalty to head into first intermission with the one-goal lead.
Shots in the first period were 10-7 for the Wildcats.
Just under three minutes into the second Yoan Loshing made a great move past the Sea Dogs defence and put a strong shot on goal but Hurtubise was equal to the task.
Moncton got their equaliser just a minute and a half later though with Gabe Smith finding Preston Lounsbury uncovered in the Sea Dogs slot who made no mistake to tie the game 2-2.
Five minutes later, Sam-Luca Thifault forced a turnover at the Moncton blueline and gave the puck to Cournyer who made a brilliant toe-drag to cut to the net but could not chip it past Filion.
The Sea Dogs continued to pressure the Wildcats and Brady Burns received the puck mere feet from Filion, but couldn't find an opening past the Moncton netminder.
However, Saint John continued to swarm the Wildcats zone and Burns found the puck amidst a goal-mouth scramble and flipped it over Filion's shoulder to put the Sea Dogs back in front 3-2.
Cournoyer continued his busy night, coming close to an insurance goal when he corralled a bouncing puck just to the left of a sprawling Filion, only to sweep the puck off the side of the open net.
The Wildcats came back the other way shortly after, finding another open man in the middle of the Sea Dogs zone, this time Anthony Hamel, who fired a low shot that Taibel redirected past Hurtubise to tie the game once again at 3-3.
A late power-play gave the Sea Dogs a handful of chances to retake the lead late in the period, but Filion would again stand tall for the Wildcats and the game remained tied heading into the third.
Shots after the second period were 25-17 for the Wildcats.
Moncton took their first lead of the game just over five minutes into the third. With Nate Tivey in the box for a costly cross-check on Loshing, the Wildcats went to work and it was Cole Bishop who put the puck off the skates of Vincent Despont and across the Sea Dogs goal line to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game.
Disaster struck again just 17 seconds later as a harmless looking shot from Auger deflected off Hurtubise's own stick and through his legs to make it 5-3 Wildcats.
The Sea Dogs battled back and after a pair of key stops from Hurtubise, Vince Elie weaved through the neutral zone and slid a pass over to Despont who made up for his own goal, ripping a shot past Filion to make it 5-4.
Vincent Labelle would come dangerously close to restoring the two-goal lead for the Wildcats, slipping in behind the Saint John defence for a breakaway only to have Hurtubise slam the door shut.
Moncton put the game out of reach with just under five minutes to play as Loshing found yet another wide open Wildcat in front of the Sea Dogs net in Maxim Barbashev who buried the dagger and sealed the win.
Hugo Marcil added a late goal to make it a 7-4 Moncton final.
The final shots were 34-29 in favour of the Wildcats
Alpine 3 Stars
1 Thomas Auger (1G 1A)
2 Pavel Simek (First QMJHL Goal)
3 Jonas Taibel (1G 1A)
Full stats
Tomorrow afternoon, the Sea Dogs will welcome over 400 local Girl Guides to TD Station as they take on the Quebec Remparts for Girl Guides Night! Puck drop is at 3pm and tickets are available at the TD Station Box Office and online.
Also, the first 800 fans in the door for tomorrow's game will receive a free pack of Tim Horton's NHL Trading Cards. Doors open at 2 PM.
Images from this story
 Saint John Sea Dogs' Pavel Simek in action |
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