FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Four Goal Leads Aren't Always Safe

Ed. Note: Each Friday, SN takes a look at a moment(s) in Sea Dogs history. In a continuing trend of random topics that make little sense to any current event, we look back at two wins featuring four goal leads from the 2007-08 season.

Earlier this season, the Saint John Sea Dogs blew a 5-1 mid-second period lead to fall to the Drummondville Voltigeurs 7-6 in a shootout. Back during the 2007-2008 campaign, two memorable matches featured some whacky events surrounding four goal leads as well.

Back on October 27, 2007, the Sea Dogs climbed out of a 5-1 second period lead themselves. It was easily one of the most entertaining games ever played by the Sea Dogs (at the time). This game is also high on our list of the greatest Alex Grant moments in team history.

Just how remarkable was this game at the time? Just look at the Sea Dogs’ website game recap opening paragraph:

Harbour Station bore witness to an event fraught with awesomeness on Saturday night, as the Saint John Sea Dogs earned their tenth win of the season in amazingly dramatic fashion, erasing a four-goal deficit in handing the St. John's Fog Devils a 6-5 shootout loss.

Alexandre Leduc opened the scoring at 13:47 of the first period to give Saint John a 1-0 lead 20 minutes. But the Fog Devils would score five straight goals – including two from current Cape Breton Screaming Eagle Taylor MacDougall - in the opening 15:17 of the second period to take a 5-1 lead.

But then the Sea Dogs’ comeback began. From the Sea Dogs’ recap via Our Sports Central:

Scott Howes then pulled the Sea Dogs to within three of the Fog Devils' lead with 2:04 remaining in the middle frame, firing a shot that deflected off of a St. John's defenseman prior to finding the back of the net and earning the 20-year old winger his fourth tally of the season. Chris DiDomenico then scored on the power play with 24.3 seconds on the clock - unleashing a howitzer of a slap shot from the slot that put the home team right back in the game as the contest reached the forty minute mark.

The Sea Dogs moved to within one of the St. John's lead midway through the third period, as Alexandre Leduc notched a power play marker to make the score 5-4 with 11:06 remaining in regulation.

At the 17:03 mark of regulation's final frame the 3,590 fans in attendance at Harbour Station erupted into an unabashed frenzy as star defenseman Alex Grant led an odd-man rush into Fog Devils territory, beating Allen with a hard backhand shot to produce the equalizer and send Saturday's match into overtime.

The breakaway contest saw both teams failing to score in the opening round prior to T.J. Brennan and Chris DiDomenico exchanging goals in the second. After Travis Fullerton stymied Ryan Graham's attempt in the third round, the stage was set for the Sea Dogs to win the game as their third shooter took the ice - Alex Grant.

The Sea Dogs Captain did not disappoint on his scoring attempt, beating Allen with a nifty shot to earn the skate-off goal and complete the incredible comeback which had begun late in the second period.

"This was definitely a huge character-building win for our team," said the Sea Grant following the thrilling victory. "We didn't play our best game out there tonight, that's for sure, but we found a way to win and that's all that matters. Hopefully we can carry this momentum into Tuesday's game against Lewiston."

Grant = clutch.

On November 16, 2007 that same season, Saint John almost blew a four goal lead under bizarre circumstances.

The Sea Dogs held a 4-0 lead in Chicoutimi after two periods – but then the lights went out. A power outage at the George Vezina Centre caused the third period of the game to be moved to November 18.

But an offensive surge by the Sagueneens tied the game at 4-4 on the unexpected Sunday afternoon tilt, forcing overtime where Chris DiDomenico recorded his 20th of the season to give Saint John a 5-4 win. The worst part of having to play the Sunday game was the fact that the Rogers Sportsnet crew was in town for the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge which was played on the following day in Chicoutimi. Saint John’s epic collapse was then brought up on the nationally televised contest.

"It was definitely a strange set of circumstances, but we're very happy to be taking these two points home with us," said DiDomenico following the wacky road victory to the Sea Dogs’ website.