SEA DOGS POST-GAME NOTEBOOK

SEA DOGS – WILDCATS GAME AT A GLANCE
Final Score/Shootout: Saint John 4, Moncton 3
Saint John Goals: Nicholas Petersen (25), Danick Gauthier (10), and Yann Sauve (5)
Moncton Goals: Nicolas Deschamps (21), Daniel Pettersson (12), and Marek Hrivik (15)
Winning Goaltender: SNB – Cousineau, Marco (11-14-0)
Losing Goaltender: MON – Riopel, Nicola (2-1-0)

THE NUMBERS
Power Play: Wildcats 3/7, Sea Dogs 1/5
Shots on Goal: Wildcats: 8+12+3+2=25, Sea Dogs: 6+11+15+2=34
Attendance: 6,803

SCRATCHES
Scratches for Saint John were Mike Thomas (serving the final game of a three game suspension) and Jonathan Huberdeau (playing for Team Quebec at the World Under 17’s).

The Wildcats were missing nine players, two defensemen and seven forwards, and that included several key components of their team. They were Dillon Donnelly, Brandon Gormley, Kirill Kabanov, Andrew Roski, Pierre-Marc Lessard, Ted Stephens, Scott Brannon, Matt Brown, and Gabriel Bourque.

DOWN BUT NOT OUT
The Sea Dogs’ third period dominance continued on Thursday night. Down two goals entering the period, Saint John tied the game and outshot the Wildcats 15-3 in the frame.

“We came in the room after the second period and no one was talking,” said Mike Hoffman to the Telegraph-Journal. “We were just thinking about what we had to do in the third period.

"All the boys were focused in the room and we went out there and dominated them in the third period. Coming back from 3-1 in Moncton isn't an easy thing to do.''

"They scored early in the third period (to cut their deficit to 3-2), seized the momentum from that and pushed us hard down the stretch,” said Moncton coach Danny Flynn to the Times & Transcript. “We had a hard time getting the momentum back. I thought it was a tremendously hard-fought game.

"We had a hard time in the third period. We couldn't get the puck deep and create a forecheck which was something that I thought we did a good job of in the first two periods.”

GETTING REVENGE
With the win, Saint John avenged their previous loss to the Moncton Wildcats on December 13 at the Coliseum.

"Our last time here we lost 7-3 and the guys remembered that,” said Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant said. “We got down 3-1 tonight, but held together and came out with a great third period.”

That loss ended the Sea Dogs’ 22-game winning streak. After the win, the Wildcat players did a bizarre celebration where they pumped their sticks into the air like lifting weights.

This time, the Sea Dogs celebrated the same way as they huddled around Marco Cousineau. Coach Gerard Gallant walked across the ice to the dressing room staring down his team – but trying at the same time to hold a grin back.

TERRIFIC DEBUTS
Marco Cousineau was terrific in goal in his Saint John debut. He made 22 saves in picking up his 11th victory of the season. He is now 1-3-0-0 this season against the Wildcats.

He sported red pads, blocker, and glove with a white helmet.

Also making his home debut was Wildcat star goalie Nicola Riopel. He made 31 saves in his first loss of the season. He rejoined the Wildcats two weeks ago and is 2-1-0.

The reigning MVP had some questionable moments as he appeared to dive on at least one of the Sea Dogs’ goaltender interferences penalties. He also robbed Michael Kirkpatrick twice with spectacular glove saves.

FLEABURN DOMINATES IN RACE
Sea Dogs mascot Fleaburn, battling sickness, wiped the floor with Wild Willie in the mascot challenge. The challenge consisted of Frisbee throwing, t-shirt throwing, noise making, and a sprint finish.

Willie stumbled out of the gate, giving Fleaburn an instant lead. The loveable Dogs mascot threw his t-shirts and Frisbees into the crowd before Willie flung his shirts. After falling again, Willie desperately tried to catch up but couldn’t.

The intermission coordinator was in disbelief and said “well, look at the scoreboard; we are winning where it counts.” Unfortunately, even that backfired on the Cats.

PARKING LOT PARTY
Sea Dogs fans were going crazy in the Coliseum parking lot following the game. Horns and noisemakers were being used, car horns were going off outside the Sea Dogs team bus, and there were completely random shrieks from some fans leaving the rink.

QIUCK HITS
Mike Hoffman now has a record of 3-0 while wearing the captains “C” on his sweater. This will be the last game he where’s it with Mike Thomas returning on Saturday… this is the second straight time that the Sea Dogs have allowed three power play goals against the Wildcats. On December 13, Moncton went 3/6 on the man advantage… this was the last time until the playoffs the Sea Dogs will be wearing their dark jersey’s on the road. Teams switch after the New Year… the Wildcats had nine rookies in their lineup… the Rivalry Cup holiday food drive took place and there was a good number of patron’s dropping off items. No amount has been given yet… speaking of the Rivalry Cup, according to saintjohnseadogs.com, the standings are deadlocked at 8.5 points a piece… the crowd of 6,803 was the Wildcats’ first sellout of the season… in the guess-how-many-jelly-beans-there-are contest, an incredible eight people had the winning amount. It was an obvious total of 2009… the Sea Dogs are now 1-1-0-0 in New Years Eve games.

NEXT GAME
Brunswick News Rivalry Cup Game 5: Moncton Wildcats vs Saint John Sea Dogs. Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 7:00 pm at Harbour Station.

Members of Sea Dogs Nation are invited to bring non-perishable food items with them on Saturday as part of the Rivalry Cup Holiday Food Drive. The Wildcats held a similar drive on Thursday. Whichever team receives the most donations (determined by weight) will receive five (5) Rivalry Cup points.

Also on Saturday at 1:00 pm at Harbour Station, the Moncton Flyers visit the Saint John Vito’s in midget AAA action. With the purchase of a general admission seat to the Vito’s – Flyers game ($5), fans will receive a complimentary voucher redeemable for a $6 upper bowl ticket to the Sea Dogs – Wildcats game (Section 7, 8, or 9 only).