DOGS BEAT 'CATS IN OVERTIME

SN RECAP
FINAL (OT): Sea Dogs 3, Wildcats 2

MONCTON – It wasn’t expected to be like this.

The Moncton Wildcats, missing several members of their roster due to injuries and international events, hung in with the heavyweight Saint John Sea Dogs all the way into overtime.

Michael Kirkpatrick, Steven Anthony, and Stephen MacAulay all score for the Sea Dogs who defeated the Wildcats 3-2. MacAulay scored the overtime winner following a faceoff in the offensive zone. Goaltender Frederic Piche faced some tough shots, stopping 24 pucks in the win.

Saint John was not their usual dominant self, not playing the game that has made them successful this season. The Sea Dogs blew a two-goal led for the second time in their past three games.

Scott Trask and Cole MacMillan scored for the ‘Cats. Steve Gleeson was solid in the Moncton net, stopping 36 shots on the night.

Tyler Howe was called for checking from behind at 14:39. On the power play, Zack Phillips fed Kirkpatrick in front from a pass from the icing line. Kirkpatrick had an open net and one-timed it past Gleeson to make it a 1-0 game.

The period was fairly even between the two teams with Moncton having the more dangerous of the scoring opportunities. Shots in the opening frame were 12-8 Wildcats.

In the second and on another power play, Phillips was in the high slot and fed Anthony who sat at the faceoff dot. He slapped the disc into the high corner of the Wildcats’ net to make it 2-0 Saint John at 8:16.

At 8:38, Howe absolutely steamrolled recalled Saint John defenseman Spencer MacDonald behind the net. MacDonald was crunched against the boards so hard that his body went horizontal with his skates coming up above his head. On the man advantage, Saint John could not score.

Guillaume Cloutier took a hooking penalty at 12:42. On the power play, the Wildcats got on the board at 13:44. A point shot caused a scramble and Trask was able to find a hole on the fallen Piche to make it a 2-1 game.

Kirkpatrick was given a game misconduct when he nearly destroyed Daniel Milan at 14:04. Kirkpatrick ran into the Wildcats defenseman against the penalty box glass with Milan’s head hitting the top part of the boards. The Sea Dogs were given a five-minute major penalty for the hit, but the Wildcats couldn’t generate a whole lot of offense on the play.

Shots in the middle frame were 10-8 Saint John.

In the third period, Saint John thought they scored but it was immediately waved off as it was ruled the whistle went before the puck was jammed in.

At 15:55, a shot from the top of the circle hit some objects in front and fooled Piche to tie the match at 2-2. Credit for the marker was given to MacMillan.

Shots in the third were 19-6 Sea Dogs.

Overtime was uneventful with the exception of both teams giving up offensive chances on defensive miscues. At 3:08 on a faceoff, MacAulay beat Gleeson to stun the Wildcats by winning 3-2.

Shots in the extra session were 2-0 Saint John.

The Sea Dogs went 2/7 on the power play while Moncton went 1/5.

NOTES: See Sea Dogs Postscript tomorrow.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the Acadie-Bathurst Titan Tuesday night at Harbour Station at 7:00 pm.