MOOSEHEADS DOWN SEA DOGS 2-1

In their final home game of the pre-season, the Saint John Sea Dogs dropped a 2-1 decision to the Halifax Mooseheads on a blistering hot Wednesday in the Port City.

Alex Souligny and Francis Turbide scored for the Mooseheads. Peter Delmas made 36 saves for the Herd with 21 of them being considered dangerous.

Saint John replied with a goal from Danick Gauthier. Newly acquired ‘tender Frederic Piche stopped 26 shots and fell to 0-2 in the pre-season.

Halifax made it 1-0 at 1:18 on the power play. A point shot hit the back glass and bounced in the crease area under Piche. Souligny sat at the side of the goal and hammered home the puck to give the Herd an early lead.

Saint John would tie the game at 15:41 on the power play. Stanislav Galiev picked up the puck and made a great move around a fallen Moosehead defender. Galiev gave a backhand pass to Gauthier at the side of the net who made no mistake, firing a wrist shot over Delmas’ pad to tie the game at 1-1.

Shots in the opening frame were 15-7 Saint John.

In the middle stanza, the Herd pulled ahead once again after a scramble in the crease. Turbide found the puck at the side of the net and one timed a shot by Piche to record his second goal of pre-season play.

Saint John had plenty of chances to tie the game following the goal. Pierre Durepos was left alone in front of the cage but sent a shot high and wide. Then, Steven Anthony was sprung a partial break but sent the disc wide.

Just as Charles Bety tumbled out of the penalty box, Michael Kirkpatrick and Garrett Clarke dropped the gloves in the corner for a short but spirited bout. Clarke left for the dressing room immediately following the tilt but would return.

Shots in the second were 14-11 in favour of the visitors.

In the third, Jonathan Huberdeau looked ats though he would tie the game on a breakaway. He pulled his classic deke on Delmas but was robbed by the overage net minders pad.

Shortly after, Galiev had a breakaway on a power play but failed to get a good shot off on his solo mission.

Saint John pulled Piche in the final minute, giving Halifax having several chances to score on the empty net. But it would not matter as the Moose took the game 2-1.

Shots in the final frame were 11-7 Sea Dogs.

Saint John finished the game 1/9 on the power play while Halifax went 1/8.

NOTES
Saint John falls to 2-3-0-0 in the pre-season… this was the team’s final home game until their regular season home opener on September 10 against the PEI Rocket… Michael Kirkpatrick wore the “C” with Mike Thomas not in the lineup… Garrett Clarke was listed as Simon Desmarais in the game sheets handed out at Harbour Station… no Sea Dog finished with a plus rating... pictures from Station Nation photographer Marc Henwood can be found HERE.

NEXT GAME
Saint John wraps up the pre-season tomorrow night at the Charlottetown Civic Centre at 7:00 pm against the PEI Rocket.