RECAP: 7th Heaven. Dogs Win 2-1.

FINAL: Saint John 2, PEI 1

CHARLOTTETOWN – Danick Gauthier keeps scoring goals, Zack Phillips keeps getting points and the Saint John Sea Dogs keep winning games.

The Sea Dogs won their seventh straight game on Friday night at the Charlottetown Civic Centre, defeating the PEI Rocket 2-1. Saint John improved their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League record to 21-6-0-0 and sit first overall with 42 points.

Tomas Jurco and Gauthier scored for Saint John. Gauthier netted his league-best 24^th marker of the year. Zack Phillips, wearing the ‘C’ in Jonathan Huberdeau’s absence, recorded an assist on Jurco’s goal to extend his point streak to 15 games. It is the longest streak in the league this season.

Mathieu Corbeil was excellent in net again for Saint John, making 28 saves for the win. He was named first star for his performance.

Matej Beran scored the lone PEI goal. Maxime Lagace allowed two goals on 34 shots.

Ryan Tesink returned to the Sea Dogs lineup but, like the past few games, they struggled to produce offense. Luckily, like the past few games, Saint John’s power play clicked, going 2-for-4.

FIRST PERIOD

The first period was about as exciting as an Anne of Green Gables play.

Early on, the Rocket were trying to jam the puck in at the side of the goal but couldn’t. Then at 6:03, Saint John headed to the power play but were unable to get anything going.

Then at 10:45, Denis Creighton headed to the box for hooking. The Rocket had some pressure on but were not able to get any scoring opportunities.

Late in the first, Maxime Lagace stopped a Ryan Tesink shot and, after a scramble, the puck came to Tomas Jurco. The Slovakian had a fairly easy goal but it was quickly waived off due to a player interfering with Lagace. Somehow, no penalty was called and the goal still did not count.

Later on, Mathieu Corbeil made his best save of the frame as he made a pad stop on Alex Noel in the slot.

Shots were 6-6 in the first period.

SECOND PERIOD

The second period proved to be quite eventful. Early on, Jurco had a chance but Lagace made the shoulder stop. Then Josh Currie had an opportunity for PEI, forcing Corbeil to make an arm save off the sharp angle shot.

After the Rocket had a few good chances and were getting some pressure on, Stephen MacAulay had a good chance in front but Lagace managed to poke the disc away and out of danger.

At 6:08, Jimmy Oligny was tossed and given a five-minute major penalty after hitting Aidan Kelly with a head shot. Kelly headed to dressing room with athletic therapist Jeff Kelly following the hit and did not return. On the ensuing man advantage, Danick Gauthier nailed the crossbar which was followed by a good Olivier Croteau shorthanded chance. The Gauthier play would be reviewed – and it was a lengthy one – but it was ruled no goal.

After all that, Jurco gave the Sea Dogs a 1-0 lead at 9:07 and his backhanded beat Lagace. Saint John had some good pressure on following the goal but were unable to convert on the man advantage again.

PEI headed to the power play at 12:23 as Ian Saab headed off. Jurco had a shorthanded chance as his shot hit the glove of Lagace, landing behind the turned-around netminder. Phillips had the rebound but couldn’t get it in as bodies flew everywhere.

After PEI failed to connect on the power play, they had several opportunities as the period went on. Corbeil was way out of position at one point along the goal line but Olivier Croteau couldn’t centre the puck. Then the Saint John ‘tender came up huge with a big glove stop on Victor Provencher late in the frame.

The Rocket headed to power play again at 19:56 as Ryan Tesink headed to the box. Following a faceoff win by the Rocket, Matej Beran had a great opportunity in front but was denied by Corbeil’s pad just prior to the buzzer sounding.

Shots were 14-13 in favour of the Rocket in the second period.

THIRD PERIOD

Early in the third, Jason Cameron and Scott Oke had a two-on-one. Cameron kept and shot but was stopped by Lagace. The Rocket had some good pressure on the power play that carried over but they couldn’t tie it.

PEI was getting some momentum going in the opening minutes of the period but it would not last. Jurco had a chance in the crease area later on, getting the puck to the goal line but couldn’t get it any further. Lagace hurt his leg on the play. He stayed down for a few minutes but did not leave in the game.

Saint John headed to the power play at 9:10 after Marc-Andre Levesque drilled Gauthier into the boards from behind. On the ensuing man advantage, Gauthier netted his league-leading 24^th goal of the season to put the Dogs up 2-0 at 9:38.

Currie had a great chance later on in the frame but failed to score on a wide open cage, sending the puck wide. A few moments later, Phillips had a chance in front but hit some traffic and sailed wide.

The Rocket made it a one-goal game at 18:52 as Beran banged in a bouncing puck, setting up an intense final minute of action.

In that final minute, Saint John went into shutdown mode, making it difficult for the Rocket to get the puck out of the zone. Eventually they did but were not able to tie it up, giving Saint John a 2-1 victory.

Shots were 15-9 Saint John in the third.

The Sea Dogs went 2-for-4 on the power play while the Rocket went 0-for-3.

NOTES: See Sea Dogs Postscript tomorrow on SN.

TOMORROW: From RBC:

Please help us help Prokids by donating your gently used Hockey Equipment and you will receive a ballot for a chance to win our Family Night out Basket for 4 

Join us on Saturday November 19th from 12-3 for some games and prizes and snacks. We will do our draw on that day 

Lets work together as a community to help kids play hockey 

Thank you for your support and donations

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs are in Bathurst on Sunday to take on the Titan at 4pm.

Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation