POSTSCRIPT: Wildcats 5, Sea Dogs 1

SEA DOGS – WILDCATS GAME AT A GLANCE
Final Score: Moncton 5, Saint John 1
Saint John Goals: Nathan Beaulieu (4)
Moncton Goals: Gabriel Bourque (19), Daniel Pettersson (6), Kelsey Tessier (12), and Devon MacAusland (5, 6)
Winning Goaltender: MON – Nicola Riopel (15-4)
Losing Goaltender: SJ – Marco Cousineau (14-6)
New 88.9 Top Dog: Marco Cousineau

THE NUMBERS
Power Play: Wildcats: 0/4, Sea Dogs: 0/2
Shots on Goal: Wildcats: 17+15+3=35, Sea Dogs: 3+11+17=31
Attendance: 6,488

SAINT JOHN SCRATCHES
The Sea Dogs produced the same lineup for Game Four on Saturday as they did for Game Five. Nicholas Pard was out with a fractured foot, Kevin Gagne missed the game with a knee injury, and Steven Anthony was still out with a hurt groin. Tyrone Sock and Aiden Kelly were healthy scratches.

News 88.9 reports that Gagne is “very close to returning.”


HURTING DOGS
Simon Despres was hit in the face with a stick in the first period but returned. Also in the first period, Gabriel Bourret was crunched into the end boards by Cole MacMillan. The rookie laid of the ice in pain before leaving with what looked to be a shoulder injury.

Bourret did not return, meaning that the Dogs were down to just five defensemen for the rest of the night.

ONE TO FORGET
Nicholas Petersen gave the Saint John Sea Dogs the spark they needed in Game Four. Petersen scored in overtime on Friday night, tying the President’s Cup Final at 2-2 against the Moncton Wildcats. With the Dogs finally having some momentum, a blowout was the last thing on most folks' minds.

But a blowout was what they got as the Wildcats trounced the Sea Dogs 5-1 at Harbour Station Saturday night, giving them a chance to the clinch the QMJHL crown on Monday.

“Sea Dogs Head Coach Gerard Gallant is hoping his team was tired coming off that emotional Game Four win because he wouldn't expect they would come out and play like that,” reports CHSJ News.

Saint John was out of the game early and never really entered until the third period. Although the Wildcats carried only a 2-0 lead after one, Moncton outshot the home side 17-3 in the frame.
It didn’t get much better in the second as the ‘Cats doubled their lead in a four minute span.

But in the third, Saint John finally showed up, outshooting Moncton 17-3. But most of Saint John's chances were nothing to be proud of. Their lone goal came off a Nathan Beaulieu slap shot that hit a stick on the way by.

It certainly wasn’t the 9-3 romping that the Wildcats laid last Sunday, but under the circumstances, the game was just as bad.

SCALPING TIME
From Halifax Mooseheads’ play-by-play man John Moore on Twitter:

Scaplers outside Harbour Station looking for $50 for $17 ticket.

There were some empty seats at the game that sold-out in 31 minutes. With under 10 minutes to go in the third and the ‘Cats up by four goals, one of the biggest mass exits ever seen took place.

LOU IN THE HOUSE
Rogers Sportsnet junior hockey play-by-play guy Peter Loubardias (whose name is real pain to spell) was at the game, chilling for most of the event with the Rogers TV crew.

He was the first intermission guest on Rogers. In the second intermission, QMJHL commissioner Gilles Courteau took a seat in the big stool next to the zamboni entrance.

From CHSJ:

Courteau tells CHSJ News, the action so far in the best of seven has been excellent and bodes well for both teams and their cities.

Courteau says the league has no plan for expansion and despite what you may have heard, is not upset the Presidents Cup Final is an all New Brunswick affair.

TOP TWEET
This basically sums up how most people felt after the game. From robynmac:

SJ Sea Dogs lost last night. They didn't play any recognizable form of hockey and just stood around and looked pretty.

BOURQUE AGAIN
After going without a goal for the first time in the series on Friday, Gabriel Bourque was back at it with a first period marker. The goal gives Bourque 19 in the post-season.

He also added an assist on his way to first star honors.

FIRST GOAL AGAIN
Game Five continued a streak that has lasted the entire series. The team that has scored first in all five games has gone on to victory.

LAST TIME?
It could have been Mike Hoffman’s, Nicholas Petersen’s, and Marco Cousineau’s last game at Harbour Station last night if the Dogs fail to win Game Six Monday. Joined by the three 20-year old’s are several veterans that may have hit the Station ice for the final time.

Also, it could very well have been the last game with the ole’ score clock.

SEADOGSTV HIGHLIGHTS


WILDCATS POST-GAME


QUICK HITS
For the second time in the series at Harbour Station, a Wildcat fan won the 50/50 draw… Moncton fans flipped out after the game which included several falling asleep on their car horn… Marco Cousineau was solid in net again but very well could have had a couple of the Wildcat goals… Devon MacAusland tied a career high with two goals last night... the woman with the awesome Gerard Gallant shirt was at the game.

NEXT GAME
Game Six is Monday at 7:00 pm at the Moncton Coliseum. The game will be on Rogers TV.