SEA DOGS WIN IT IN OT

SN POST-GAME
FINAL (OT): Sea Dogs 3, Huskies 2

ROUYN-NORANDA, Que. – Jonathan Huberdeau is proving to be the go to guy on offense this season.

A goal and two assists by Huberdeau helped guide the Saint John Sea Dogs to a 3-2 overtime win in Rouyn-Noranda Saturday evening against the Huskies in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action.

Huberdeau assisted on Zach Phillips’ opening goal, scored a shorthanded marker in the third, and then setup Simon Despres’ game winning goal in the extra session.

It wasn’t a game that will be remembered for its offense. For much of the affair, the two teams just went back-and-forth and had no real momentum or any kind of offensive pressure. But it got the job for the Sea Dogs who will look to sweep their Quebec road swing with a win tomorrow.

Jacob DeSerres played very in net, making some big stops. He made 30 saves to pick up the victory.

The Huskies did all that they could against Saint John with a penalty in overtime being their ultimate demise. Jean-Francois Grenier and Jonathan Bonneau scored for the home team who have know lost seven straight games.

Mickael Audette made 29 saves in goal in the loss.

FIRST PERIOD
After a slow start for both teams, Rouyn-Noranda began to put some pressure on. Jessyko Bernard walked out from the corner and entered the crease area but was stopped by Jacob DeSerres in the Sea Dogs goal. Not long after, a Jason Kelly shot produced a rebound that went to Robbie DeFulviis at the side of the net but he couldn’t get a shot off.

Stanislav Galiev made a nice play at the other end to put some pressure on the Huskies. He spun around and threw the puck in the crease but no Sea Dog was in position to get a stick on it.

Zach Phillips made it 1-0 Saint John at 8:29, beating Mickael Audette with a low wrist shot from the faceoff circle to open the scoring.

Not long after, a turnover in the Huskies zone allowed for Jonathan Huberdeau to walk into the crease area but was stopped. Then, Galiev came down the wing and centered for a streaking Steven Anthony but was tied up at the last minute.

DeSerres made a nice stop on a Vincent Bernier shot later on in the frame. That was followed by Tomas Jurco sending a pass from behind the goal line at the other end to Huberdeau in front but Audette was there to make the stop.

DeSerres was tested again on a Robert McEwan point shot, making a great glove save through a high level of traffic. In the dying seconds of the period, Mike Thomas sent the puck just wide of the goal on a wrist shot down low.

Shots in the opening period were 13-9 Rouyn-Noranda.

SECOND PERIOD
The Sea Dogs had the best scoring opportunities early on. Scott Oke came down the wing and had a step on the Rouyn-Noranda defense but was stopped. Then a lead pass was grabbed by Stephen MacAulay, but a nice defensive play by the Huskies backend forced him away from the net.

Alexandre Beauregard made a great move on DeSerres not long after. The left winger cut through the crease and went to his backhand but was denied by the Sea Dogs stopper.

DeFulviss headed to box at 9:24 for slashing and gave Saint John their first penalty of the game. On the man advantage, Simon Despres ripped a shot off the crossbar. Then a pass from the point found Anthony down low but could not jam it in.

With the penalty over, DeFulviis wired the puck off the far post on a sharp angle shot but stayed out.

Mike Thomas was called for cross checking at 14:28 and it would be costly. The Sea Dogs tried to clear the puck but it was stopped at the point by Jean-Francois Grenier. He walked across the line and fired a shot through traffic that beat DeSerres to tie the match at 1-1 at 16:05.

The Huskies kept their offensive pressure going when a loose puck was picked up by Alexandre Leclerc and quickly fired a shot off the crossbar.

At the other end, Anthony had a great chance in front but was robbed by the pad of Audette in close. Then DeSerres showed off his skills by making a huge stop on a DeFulviis one timer in the crease.

Shots in the second stanza were 11-8 for the visitors.

THIRD PERIOD
With every other game in the QMJHL having been completed by this point, the Sea Dogs went to the penalty kill at 2:19 to open up the third period. MacAulay had a shorthanded breakaway during the span but sent his shot wide. That would be the most dangerous chance for either team on the Huskies power play chance.

DeSerres made a huge kick save later on on Jeremi Janneteau in close. Then at the other end, Huberdeau a good chance in the crease once again but could not score.

At 9:07, MacAulay was called for slashing. But while shorthanded, Michael Kirkpatrick sent Huberdeau in alone. The 2011 top prospect pulled of his trademark backhand-to-forehand move to give Saint John a 2-1 lead.

But the Huskies would not go away despite wasting a power play opportunity. The team had some traffic around the net and were beginning to get some shots off.

After a Bernard hit the post, a mad scramble went down in the Saint John crease. With DeSerres down, Bonneau found the loose puck and deposited it into the empty net at 17:05 to tie the match at 2-2 and force it to overtime.

Shots in the third were 10-9 Saint John.

OVERTIME
The Huskies made a costly error at 1:47 when Grenier cross checked Jurco along the boards.

After a time-out, the Sea Dogs went to work on the power play. Huberdeau tried to rip a one timer on net from the circle but couldn’t get all of it. Fortunatly, Despres was on the doorstep to tip it home and give Saint John a 3-2 win.

Shots in the extra frame were two apiece.

The Sea Dogs were one-for-two on the power play while the Huskies were one-for-three.

SAINT JOHN SCRATCHES
Ryan Tesink was a healthy scratch for Saint John while Tyrone Sock – as reported by News 88.9 – had the flu.

On another health note, News 88.9 reported that Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant did make it to the game last night after it was initially thought he was staying behind at the hotel due to sickness.

NOTES
Sea Dogs goaltender Jacob DeSerres had his shutout streak versus Rouyn-Noranda snapped at 96 minutes and five seconds. He recorded a 2-0 shutout against the Huskies at Harbour Station on October 16… it was the same officiating crew as Friday’s game in Val-d’Or… Jonathan Huberdeau was the News 88.9 Top Dog… Simon Despres had an unreal seven shots on goal to lead Saint John… the Sea Dogs scored a shorthanded goal, a power play, and an even strength goal.. with a Moncton loss versus Halifax tonight, the Sea Dogs now sit first in the Maritimes Division.

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs wrap-up their Quebec road trip with a 5:00 pm game against the Huskies Sunday.