FINAL (SO): Wildcats 2, Sea Dogs 3
SAINT JOHN – A comeback against the Moncton Wildcats kept the Saint John Sea Dogs’ winning streak intact.
Two goals in the third period allowed Tomas Jurco and Jonathan Huberdeau to score in the shootout to give Saint John the win and the extra point. The victory was the Sea Dogs’ 11th straight in Quebec Mjor Junior Hockey League play and seventh straight over their rivals from Moncton.
The Wildacts played well through two periods but ultimately could not handle Saint John’s dynamic offense, falling 3-2 to the top-ranked junior team in Canada. It was certainly a better showing than their last meeting with the Dogs where they fell 11-2 on home ice.
Moncton had goals from James Melindy and Marek Hrivik. Goaltender Steve Gleeson had a tremendous night, making 37 saves in the loss.
The Sea Dogs had some troubles in the first 40 minutes of the match and had some problems staying out of the box, something that seemed to take the home team off their rhythm a bit. But Saint John turned it on the third, sending it to extra time and allowed the teams unbeaten-in-regulation-at-home record to keep on rolling.
Tomas Jurco and Stanislav Galiev scored in regulation for the Dogs. Jacob DeSerres was solid one again, making 23 saves for the win.
FIRST PERIOD
Marek Hrivik had the first chance of the game as he sent a shot on goal from the rim of the circle but was stopped nicely by Sea Dogs goaltender Jacob DeSerres.
The Wildcats went to the power play at 5:15 as Stanislav Galiev dumped one of the Saulnier’s by the bench and was called for interference. On the ensuing man advantage, Ted Stephens accepted a cross crease pass but only got a weak shot off, hitting the post as DeSerres slid across.
With the penalty over, Saint John Saint John started to roll. Michael Kirkpatrick threw the disc on net from the corner but was stopped by Wildcats netminder Steve Gleeson. The Dogs went to the power play at 8:45 but couldn’t get anything going over the span.
Moncton opened the scoring at 12:05 as James Melindy fired a point shot that beat DeSerres high glove side to give the ‘Cats a 1-0 lead.
A scrum at 14:58 put the Wildcats back to the power play as Mike Thomas took roughing calls during the span. It looked as though Thomas and Simon Jodoin were going to the drop the gloves but it amounted to nothing. Moncton managed to put together a pretty good man advantage as Alex Saulnier sent a beautiful tip just high of the net. After Saulnier’s chance, Danick Gauthier broke free for the Dogs while shorthanded but was stopped by the blocker of Gleeson. Hrivik had the last chance for the ‘Cats, sending a backhand shot off the crossbar.
With the power play over, Moncton kept the pressure on as DeSerres made a huge pad stop on Hrivik in the crease area. That caused a scrum that saw Nathan Beaulieu called for roughing at 19:19.
Late in the frame, Eric Gelinas laid a big hip check on Jodoin at the blue line.
Shots in the opening stanza were 9-8 Saint John.
SECOND PERIOD
As Moncton’s power play that carried over into the second was ticking down, Simon Despres sent a pass down low to Stephen MacAulay who sent a backhand shot on net that was stopped by Gleeson.
After matching delay of game penalties to Mike Thomas and Scott Trask at 2:51, Jurco sent a nice cross ice pass to Kirkpatrick who nailed Gleeson in the lower area of his mask and stayed out.
Moncton went back to the power play at 4:22 as Gabriel Bourret headed off for cross checking. Luckily for Saint John, the Wildcats couldn’t get much of anything going during the span.
Moncton’s Daniel Milan was called for tripping at 7:38. Then, after Jonathan Huberdeau was tossed into the post at 8:50, a scrum ensued behind the goal. Huberdeau somehow got a penalty out of it as well as Jodoin for the Wildcats. During the penalty-serving span, Jurco stood at the goal line and sent a shot backdoor on Gleeson but he managed to smother the disc in time.
At 9:20, Daniel Pettersson had a great chance as he tipped the puck just over a wide open cage. A couple minutes later at the other end, Gleeson made a huge stop on Zack Phillips in front as he dove across to deny the Sea Dog on the open net opportunity.
Beaulieu headed to the sin bin at 15:26. On the man advantage at 15:39, a Brandon Gormley blast from the point was stopped by DeSerres. But Hrivik was at the top of the crease and sailed the puck over the Dogs ’tender to make it a 2-0 game for the visitors.
Late in the frame, Jurco placed a great tip on a Beaulieu point shot but couldn’t cash in.
Shots in the middle frame were 15-8 Saint John.
THIRD PERIOD
A scrum at the end of the second period gave the Sea Dogs a power play to open up the third period. The best chance on the man advantage came when Anthony was parked at the side but sent a shot off the netting.
The Sea Dogs finally got on the board at 2:08 as an Eric Gelinas point shot was blocked in front by a pile of Wildcat players. The puck came loose for Jurco who batted home his 26th marker of the season to make it a 2-1 game.
Saint John was buzzing after Jurco’s goal. After a point shot was stopped, the puck was loose at the side of the goal but Phillips couldn’t get a shot off.
The Dogs finally tied the affair at 4:21 as Galiev ripped a laser of a wrist shot past the glove of Gleeson to make it a 2-2 game.
Saint John kept coming after that. Beaulieu sent a wrist from between the circles that just went wide. Then, Huberdeau was alone in front but the puck was blockered away by a zoned in Moncton goaltender. Play started to pick up as the period grew on and both teams had some solid chances.
With six seconds remaining in the frame, Huberdeau was called goaltender interference. Huberdeau didn’t like it, smashing his stick in the penalty box.
Shots in the third frame were 12-6 Sea Dogs.
OVERTIME
In the extra session, Allain Saulnier had the best chance for the ‘Cats along the goal line but was denied by the pad of DeSerres.
Mike Thomas almost ended the match as he broke loose on a break but wasn’t able to get a shot off as the Wildcats defense recovered nicely.
Shots on overtime were 3-3.
SHOOTOUT
Michael Kirkpatrick shot first but couldn’t get the puck on goal. Allain Saulnier then shot for Moncton but was stopped by DeSerres.
Jurco went third and pulled off his fake-a-backhand-shot-then-go-forehand move to beat Gleeson. Alex Saulnier was then stopped, allowing Jonathan Huberdeau to pull of his trademark move for the win and the extra point.
NOTES: See Sea Dogs Postscript tomorrow.
NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the Val-d’Or Foreurs Friday at 7:30 pm at Harbour Station.
Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation
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