SEA DOGS POST-GAME NOTEBOOK

SEA DOGS –WILDCATS GAME AT A GLANCE
Final Score/SO: Moncton 4, Saint John 3
Saint John Goals: Mike Hoffman (44), Tomas Jurco (22), and Zach Phillips (16)
Moncton Goals: Brandon Gormley (9), Mark Barberio (14), and Allain Saulnier (7)
Winning Goaltender: MON – Shane Owen (13-3-0)
Losing Goaltender: SNB – Marco Cousineau (23-18-0)

THE NUMBERS
Power Play: Wildcats: 2/5, Sea Dogs: 1/3
Shots on Goal: Wildcats: 12+8+3+2=25, Sea Dogs: 10+11+15+2=38
Attendance: 6,488

SAINT JOHN SCRATCHES
Gabriel Bourret and Aiden Kelly were both healthy scratches for Saint John. Jonathan Huberdeau was back after missing Wednesday’s game with an upper body injury.

SO CLOSE
It looked like Saint John might run away run with this one as they had a two goal lead three minutes into the game. But the Sea Dogs blew the lead and fell behind 3-2 going into the third period. Zach Phillips tied the game before Shane Owen shut the door on the Sea Dogs in the shootout.

"We just had to make sure we didn't get rattled,'' said Moncton head coach Danny Flynn to the Times & Transcript, who called a timeout after his club fell behind 2-0 less than three minutes into the game.

"It was a matter of focusing on the game plan, getting pucks deep and trying to create scoring chances or draw penalties off cycles. There was lots of time left and I just wanted to settle things down and get the guys to re-focus. I thought we responded well.''

The Wildcats did respond after the timeout, tying the game as well as having several quality chances.

The Sea Dogs really dominated the third period and outshot Moncton 15-3 in the frame.

"We did a great job of getting the two points tonight,'' said Wildcats forward Nicolas Deschamps, to the Telegraph-Journal. "We love (the rivalry). This helps get us ready for the playoffs. We showed up with good grit and good leadership.''

THE WORLD IS ENDING
If the UNB Varsity Reds can be swept out of the second round of the AUS playoffs, the Saint John Sea Dogs can lose in a shootout.

Kelsey Tessier and Nicolas Deschamps scored for the Wildcats while Mike Hoffman was stopped and Tomas Jurco hit the post. Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant no doubt had a lot second thinking after the game on whether or not he should have used Jonathan Huberdeau earlier. Huberdeau has yet to miss on a shootout attempt this season.

Shane Owen is solid the shootout and much better than star goaltender Nicola Riopel, who struggles with the one-on-one shooter format.

This was Saint John’s first shootout loss of the season, falling to 9-1 in the breakaway challenge. Their last shootout loss was last season on March 13 in Halifax.

Four of the seven games played between these two teams have been decided in a shootout.

OWEN HAS FLIPPERS
Moncton goaltender Shane Owen was coming off a 2-0 shutout win in Cape Breton on Tuesday. He did not face many shots, which may have been the reason for his somewhat rusty play.

Owen let out huge rebounds on almost every shot and even struggled with his catching glove at times. The Wildcats didn't seem to see it that way though.

"Everyone knows that our goaltender was the big difference in this game,” said Randy Cameron. “Shane was the Most Valuable Player for us tonight for sure.''

"I think we have to give our goaltender the credit for this win,” said Tessier. “Shane Owen stood on his head and played excellent. It's tough when you give up two early goals, but he showed he's a strong competitor and a good goalie to bounce back.''

Nicola Riopel looked like he would start as he was on the bench in full gear before warm-up began. He missed his second straight game with sickness.

THE BOOM WAS LOWERED
What a hit Mike Thomas laid on Alex Wall in the third period. Clean or not, the entire building erupted in cheers and jeers. Thomas was called for charging on the play and was given a five minute major penalty as well as a game misconduct.

The hit happened on open ice behind the Sea Dogs net. Thomas appeared to have gotten the shoulder up a bit on Wall’s head and may have left his feet for a small portion of the hit.

News 88.9’s Tim Roszell on the hit: “Oh my goodness.”

GONE POST-AL
Both teams hit the post a few times in this game. You can blame it on McDonalds.

The advertising that is placed on the goal posts was stuck on sideways across the crossbar. Looks weird.

SWEET SELL-OUT
With the best team in the QMJHL playing at Harbour Station all-season, the Sea Dogs finally produced their first sell-out since 2008.

"There was a great atmosphere here tonight," said ‘Cats head coach Danny Flynn, whose club stretched its winning streak to nine games. "The building was full of people from Saint John and Moncton. It was much like the last time Saint John was in our building.

Harbour Station was rocking like it was 2008 with lots of cheers for all three goals, some boo’s and choice words after Thomas’ ejection, and a standing ovation for killing off a five minute penalty.

It was also “Irish Night,” with some good music and flashy hats featured at the game.

PUMPED UP PETER
Public address announcer Peter McDevitt was absolutely pumped up for this game. He was loud and excited right from the beginning when the Sea Dogs hit the ice for warm-up.

We didn’t like the “Danick Go-Go-Gauthier” call though. That nick name is retired unless you use it on Kevin Gagne (who reminds us a bit of Francois Gauthier).

MONCTON LEADS RIVALRY CUP STILL
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT
Moncton has 16.5 points and Saint John has 14.5 points in the Rivalry Cup standings and these clubs face each other once more. There are five components for this trophy: head-to-head record, attendance, fans road trip challenge, mascot challenge and charity food drive.

Moncton earned two points for the win last night. Saint John picked up three points for the sellout crowd and one point for the shootout loss.

In the fan challenge, Moncton had a huge number of 191 fans travel to the game. Most of them sat in the corner of the east end while many others were scattered around the arena.

SEADOGSTV HIGHLIGHTS


OUT OF TOWN
Elsewhere in the QMJHL it was: Lewiston 5 Chicoutimi 3; P.E.I. 4 Cape Breton 1; Victoriaville 6 Montreal 5 (SO); Acadie-Bathurst 8 Halifax 1; Gatineau 5 Quebec 3; Drummondville 4 Rouyn-Noranda 2 and Shawinigan 6 Val-d'Or 2.

QUICK HITS
There was confusion right from the get-go at this game. The doors opened 10 minutes early for some reason but only a couple concessions were open… Mike Hoffman was named the Sea Dogs player of the month for February while Mike Thomas was named scholastic player of the month… there was a presentation before the game involving the Sea Dogs Foundation’s donation to the Luxor group… Wild Willie made the trip down south for this one… these two play each other once more at the Moncton Coliseum on March 14 at 8:00 pm. The game will be broadcasted coast-to-coast on Rogers Sportsnet… the Sea Dogs are 2-2-0-1 in sold-out games at Harbour Station… Kirill Kabanov came out on top over Stanislav Galiev in the battle of Russian rookies. Kabanov had one assist… there were 12 NHL drafted players dressed for this game… the Sea Dogs failed to clinch first overall again for the second straight game. They only need one point now to clinch… Saint John is now averaging 4,069 fans per game.

NEXT GAME
Up next for the Sea Dogs is a Sunday afternoon home game versus the Mooseheads. The puck drops at 4pm as Saint John looks to clinch the first division title in franchise history with a victory over Halifax. Tickets to this match – designated Fan Appreciation Day – are available by calling the Harbour Station Box Office at (506) 657-1234 or by visiting www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.

According to the big screen at Harbour Station, less than 700 tickets remain for this game.