POSTSCRIPT: Drakkar 2, Sea Dogs 5

By Station Nation Staff

SEA DOGS – DRAKKAR GAME AT A GLANCE
Final Score: Baie-Comeau 2, Saint John 5
Saint John Goals: Nathan Beaulieu (10), Danick Gauthier (9), Tomas Jurco (19, 20), and Michael Kirkpatrick (20)
Baie-Comeau Goals: Alexandre Durette (14, 15)
Winning Goaltender: SNB – Mathieu Corbeil
Losing Goaltender: BC – Jason Missiaen
News 88.9 Top Dog: Kevin Gagne

THE NUMBERS
Power Play: Drakkar: 1/6, Sea Dogs: 1/7
Shots on Goal: Drakkar: 3+12+4=19, Sea Dogs: 12+1+25=47
Length: 2:18
Attendance: 4,817

SAINT JOHN SCRATCHES
Zach Phillips finally got his day off yesterday afternoon. The other three Sea Dogs who took part in the CHL Top Prospects Game all got a day off last weekend with the exception being Phillips. Forwards Stephen MacAulay and Jason Cameron were also scratched.

With three forwards out of the lineup, defenseman Kevin Gagne once again took some shifts as a forward.

SCARY MOMENTS, BUT DOGS GET IT DONE
The Saint John Sea Dogs took down the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at Harbour Station in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Despite sitting on the opposite ends of the standings, the Drakkar gave the Sea Dogs a minor scare by taking a 2-1 lead into the third period.

Baie-Comeau dominated the first-half of the second period, keeping Saint John’s offense at bay. Although shots ended up being only 12-10 in favour of the visitors, the Drakkar were immensely outshooting the Sea Dogs at one point. If not for a late surge from Saint John, it could have been worse.

But the Dogs would take over the third period, rallying to score four answered goals and winning their sixth straight contest.

Nathan Beaulieu scored the lone first period goal on a wrist shot that went high on Drakkar netminder Jason Missiaen. The goal came during a power play and while a delayed penalty was being called against Baie-Comeau, allowing Saint John to ice six players.

In the second period, Alexandre Durette scored his first of two goals to tie the match at 1-1 at 9:11. Then on the power play at 13:44, Durette found the loose puck and went around Sea Dogs goaltender Mathieu Corbeil to give the visiting squad a surprising 2-1 advantage heading into the dressing room.

But the Sea Dogs would be the Sea Dogs in the third period. Danick Gauthier tied the match at 6:05 and then Tomas Jurco put the Dogs back in front at 10:01. A little over two-minutes later, Michael Kirkpatrick gave the Dogs a two-goal lead. Jurco would close the match out by scoring his second of the match at 15:27 to ensure a Saint John victory.

The Sea Dogs outshot Baie-Comeau 25-4 in the final frame.

HEATING UP
The Sea Dogs continued their hot play with the win. The top-ranked junior team in Canada has now won six straight games and are on a 12-0-1-0 run. The victory also extended Saint John’s point lead in the overall standings over the Montreal Juniors to eight points.

The Dogs were named the hottest team in the QMJHL today by Rogers Sportsnet today.

Although the Shawinigan Cataractes’ winning-streak is longer, the Sea Dogs claim the top spot with a 12-0-1-0 record and a six-game streak. Saint John’s last regulation loss was before the calendar turned in a 5-4 decision to Acadie-Bathurst on Dec. 30. The Sea Dogs opened up an eight point gap on Montreal for first overall in league standings.

Also, the Sea Dogs remain undefeated on home ice in regulation time this season.

THREE-IN-THREE
For the second straight week, the Sea Dogs were forced to play a three-in-three. Last weekend, the team swept their way through Quebec by beating Baie-Comeau, Chicoutimi, and Quebec. This week, the Dogs travelled to Moncton Friday and then hosted the Drakkar on Saturday and Sunday.

Just like last weekend, the Sea Dogs were able to sweep their opponents away. They outscored their opposition 15-6.

PEACE OUT LAPORTE
It’s been fun, Hugo Laporte.

Laporte had one of his most eventful games against Saint John yesterday by recording two penalty minutes and assisting on the Drakkar’s second goal. He got booed quite a bit as usual and even drew a penalty after taking a Jonathan Huberdeau stick in the face.

Pending a near miracle and the Drakkar make the post-season, this was Laporte’s final skate against the Sea Dogs. It’s been almost a year since his dive in the second round of last season’s playoffs, but Sea Dogs fans certainly never forget him.

We leave you with this picture from Doug McLean, who came through in the clutch by posting it on the SN Facebook page:

ROUGH ROAD TRIP
The Sea Dogs may be rolling but the Drakkar are sputtering after a four game road road trip through Atlantic Canada saw them lose all four matches.

Baie-Comeau has now lost six straight and are only 1-9-0-0 in their last 10 games. More importantly, they now sit 10 points back of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles for the final playoff spot with 15 games to play.

OPEN NET
Stanislav Galiev may want this shot back after firing wide of the cage.

SOLID CROWDS
No offense to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, but they aren’t exactly the Moncton Wildcats when it comes to generating excitement in the Port City. But this weekend’s crowds were pretty solid with 4,652 watching on Saturday night and 4,817 entering the building on Sunday afternoon. Sunday’s match drew more than November’s home game against Quebec.

Crowds are usually higher in the second half, but we imagine the Sea Dogs having a pretty good season for the second straight year may have something to do with it also. In total, Saint John is averaging a crowd of 4,094 at Harbour Station this year.

QUICK HITS
It was the annual ‘Francofans Day’ game at Harbour Station. There was music, mascots, and lots of French. It was unreal… four Sea Dogs had five shots on goal… Alexandre Durette led the way for the Drakkar in the shots department by registering four… both Tomas Jurco and Michael Kirkpatrick record their 20th goals of the season. Saint John now has five 20-goal scorers… Saint John matched their win total (41) from the 2007-08 season with the victory… the lines were all over the map again with Zack Phillips and Stephen MacAulay sitting out… if you can believe it, there are only nine home games remaining for the Dogs… following Wednesday’s game against Bathurst at the Station, the Sea Dogs hit the road for three straight... Jonathan Huberdeau played the first two period with the full cage on his helmet but came out to start the third with just a visor on… the Sea Dogs may have outshot the Drakkar 25-4 in the third, but the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors outshot Troy Passingham and the Sarnia Sting 36-5 in the first period yesterday… to relive the game, check out the SN Live Blog Replay.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

• The ice cream at Harbour Station is very underrated. It almost makes up for the lack of poutine.
• Nice to Tomas Jurco light the lamp. He hadn’t scored since January 11.
• Jason Missiaen is tall.

HIGHLIGHTS



OUT OF TOWN
Halifax 5 at PEI 4 (SO)
Montréal 6 at Cape Breton 1
Victoriaville 6 at Québec 2
Shawinigan 3 at Drummondville 2 (SO)
Chicoutimi 2 at Lewiston 5
Gatineau 3 at Val-d'Or 4 (SO)

NEXT GAME
The Acadie-Bathurst Titan are in town on Wednesday night at 7pm to face the Sea Dogs.

Photo Credits: David Connell Web Album, some toaster website, Doug McLean, SeaDogsTV