SEA DOGS POST-GAME NOTEBOOK

SEA DOGS – WILDCATS GAME AT A GLANCE
Final Score: Saint John 2, Moncton 5
Saint John Goals: Tomas Jurco (25, 26)
Moncton Goals: Daniel Pettersson (20), Gabriel Bourque (16), Mark Barberio (16, 17) and Marek Hrivik (26)
Winning Goaltender: MON - Nicolas Riopel (19-5-0)
Losing Goaltender: SNB - Marco Cousineau (25-19-0)

THE NUMBERS
Power Play: Wildcats: 1/2, Sea Dogs: 2/5
Shots on Goal: Wildcats: 11+11+17=39, Sea Dogs: 4+8+11=23 Attendance: 5,702

SAINT JOHN SCRATCHES
Every player that missed Friday’s game with the flu returned. Gabriel Bourret was scratched and Mike Thomas served the fourth game of his six game suspension.

MIND GAMES
Fans were not to upset with the Saint John Sea Dogs’ performance last night against the Moncton Wildcats. There really was nothing to play for in terms of the standings, and although the Sea Dogs played poor, this loss will not factor in to how Saint John has played the Wildcats this season.

Under the circumstances and mind games, the Sea Dogs didn’t exactly mail the game in either. They had some good chances and pressure in the game, but Moncton was that much better.

Saint John head coach Gerard Gallant, like any good coach, certainly didn’t seem to take this as a meaningless game.

"We didn't play well at all," said Gallant to the Times & Transcript. "Tonight there was nothing there from our team. One team played hard and the other didn't. There was a lack of urgency.

"It's disappointing that we played that way against a quality team like Moncton. I wished we would've played better, but it's not a big issue. We've had a big lead atop the league for awhile now so there's been times where the urgency hasn't been there."

THE MEANING IN THE GAME
There were a few things in this game to watch for. The first was Tomas Jurco, who entered the game two goals back of breaking the Sea Dogs’ rookie goal scoring record set by Chris DiDomenico in 2006-07. Jurco managed to pull it off, netting both Saint John goals in the game.

As we reported in our pre-game, unless Drummondville scored seven goals against Lewiston, the Luc Robitaille Trophy (awarded to the team who scores the most goals during the regular season) would go to the Dogs. Well, Drummondville scored seven, meaning the Dogs needed at least one goal to win it. They did, and will have the trophy awarded to them on Friday.

Also on the line was the league’s top scorer for this season. Moncton’s Nicolas Deschamps managed to tie Sean Couturier of Drummondville in points

PLAYOFF LIKE GAME FOR THE WILDCATS
Several Moncton players told Neil Hodge of the Times & Transcript that this game felt like a playoff matchup.

"It felt like a playoff game out there," said Wildcats defenceman Mark Barberio. "It was important that we finished off the regular season with a strong game and carry some positive momentum into the playoffs.”

"It was almost like a playoff game tonight," said Andrew Roski. "We might meet up with Saint John later in the playoffs. I think both clubs were trying to send one final message about what they got and what the other team has to be ready for if we do meet.”

DOWNIE, OVECHKIN… TRASK?
On a day that saw Steve Downie and Alex Ovechkin make dangerous plays in the National Hockey League, Wildcat Scott Trask joined the party in the third period.

Trask, heading horizontally across the blue line, nailed Aiden Kelly who was coming across the line with an elbow (and maybe a hint of shoulder) that would make Don Cherry faint. It was clear that Trask put his arm up as he was coming towards Kelly.

Kelly lay on the ice for a few minutes and didn’t look to beat up. He left the game with Sea Dogs therapist Jeff Kelly. Trask was put in a head lock by Christian Morin following the attack before being handed a five minute major and game misconduct.

The hit comes just over a week after Mike Thomas nailed Alex Wall at Harbour Station. Thomas was given an automatic one game suspension and another five gamer for his actions.

WHOA, WHOA, COUSINEAU
Marco Cousineau, who may still be battling some flu like symptoms, had some vey untypical baffles in this game. The 20-year old who is no stranger to a national television audience, had some shaky moments and struggled with his puck control.

Rogers Sportsnet’s Rob Faulds said that Cousineau was “dangerous behind his own net with the puck.”

Speaking of goaltending, it looked like Karel St. Laurent was going to start this game when News 91.9 reported on Twitter he would play in net. Frank later corrected himself. The QMJHL website also had their stats page for the game with St. Laurent in goal.

MONCTON TAKES THE CUP
Telegraph-Journal sports reporter Scott Briggs presented the trophy to Wildcats president Robert Irving and long-time Wildcats season ticket holders Yolande Cyr-Sinstadt and Paul G. Leblanc during the first intermission at the Moncton Coliseum. The Wildcats defeated the Sea Dogs 26.5 to 14.5 points in the Rivalry Cup standings. It's a five-part competition based on their eight regular season meetings.

The Saint John portion of the fan challenge also took place in this game but no number on the amount of fans that visited the Coliseum has been given.

We have to give a shout out to those who did make the trip. The fans got some small TV time as well when Mike Hoffman was being interviewed from the bench.

QUICK HITS
Saint John finishes the year with a record of 4-3-0-1 against Moncton. All four of their wins came via overtime or shootout… the Sea Dogs fall to 2-1-0-0 in national television all-time… Moncton finished 4-0-1-3 in the season series against Saint John. The Wildcats are 25-7-2-6 lifetime in the battle between these clubs… the Gabriel Bourque penalty shot in the first period was a very questionable call against Simon Despres. Gerard Gallant wasn’t too happy on the Saint John bench… Saint John took only two penalties in the game with Moncton cashing in on one. The Dogs went 2/5 on the power play… both of Moncton’s sell-outs this season have been against Saint John… Mike Hoffman, Nicholas Petersen, Marco Cousineau, Nicola Riopel, Scott Brannon, and Randy Cameron played in their last QMJHL regular season games… there was a pre-game ceremony for the three overage Wildcat players.

NEXT GAME
The top-seeded Sea Dogs will now prepare to face the P.E.I. Rocket in Round One of the 2010 President’s Cup Playoffs. This intradivisional series begins on Friday night (puck drop – 7:30pm) at Harbour Station.

Friday night’s match will feature a special pre-game ceremony in which QMJHL Commissioner Gilles Courteau will present the Sea Dogs with the 2009-10 Jean Rougeau Trophy as regular season champions as well as the Luc Robitaille Trophy as the highest scoring team in the league.