GAME 4 RECAP: Sea Dogs Lose 4-1

FINAL: Saint John 1, Cape Breton 4

By Lorne Webster | SN Staff

SYDNEY, NS – In a critical game, the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles came up with a 4-1 victory over the Saint John Sea Dogs Tuesday evening at Centre 200.

As a result, the best-of-seven QMJHL second round playoff series is now tie 2-2 - essentially reducing the series to a best-of-three set, with Saint John again holding home ice advantage.

Giovanni Fiore, Phelix Martineau, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Evgeny Svechnikov scored for Cape Breton. Jakub Zboril replied for Saint John. 

1st Period

The game began with a bang as a huge hit by Dillon Boucher caused a pane of glass to explode, causing a delay. Soon after the glass was replaced and the mess cleaned up, Cape Breton was granted a power play. Fiore took full advantage when he beat Marc-Antoine Turcotte just 2:20 into the game. The Screaming Eagles controlled much of the play in the first but Turcotte came up with big saves, notably when he stoned both Martineau and Michael Joly in the second half of the period.  

2nd Period

On a power play at 9:09 - moments after going postal twice - Zboril collected a loose puck in the neutral zone, rushed into the Eagles zone, split the defence and snapped a shot over Alexandre Belanger's glove to tie the game at 1-1. Seconds later, Bokondji Imama leveled Tobie Paquette-Bisson. Bisson had to be taken off on a stretcher, leading to a major penalty and game misconduct to Imama.

Here is the Imama hit on Bisson pic.twitter.com/VFZ1ue5YwS

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) April 12, 2016

However, the Sea Dogs penalty kill kept the high-flying Eagles at bay. Turcotte also robbed Joly once again with just over one minute remaining in the second to see the middle frame end tied at 1-1.

3rd Period

The Eagles took full advantage of their opportunities midway through the final period as they scored three goals in a span of 3:13. At 8:36, seconds after former Sea Dog Olivier LeBlanc did yeoman’s work to keep the puck in the Sea Dogs zone, Martineau collected a rebound and banged the puck past Turcotte. On a five-on-three power play at 10:06, Dubois unloaded a booming slap shot from the high slot past Turcotte. Finally, at 11:49, Svechnikov sent a low laser from in close to stake the home squad to a 4-1 lead. Things got a little nasty in the closing minutes, including a five-on-three power play for Saint John. But Belanger barred the door to secure a series tie. 

NOTES

• Sea Dog forwards Mathieu Joseph and Adam Marsh, along with defenceman Alex Bernier, remain on the long term injury list. Jordan King remained in the lineup after a solid game three performance - including his first playoff goal as a Sea Dog. Nico Blachman joined Vincent Martineau and Gabriel Bettez in the stands.
• Former Saint John Vito Colin MacSween replaced former Sea Dogs prospect Declan Smith in Cape Breton's lineup. Tim Roszell mentioned that Eagles captain Clark Bishop continues to show signs of a lower body injury. Cape Breton defencemen Scottie Greene and Lee Dower also sat out this contest.  
• Pierre-Luc Dubois has risen to the No. 1 position among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings.
• It's difficult to argue the one-game suspension to Nathan Noel, following a late hit on Giovanni Fiore in game two. However, it is downright puzzling how Dubois escaped a suspension following an ugly hit from behind on Spencer Smallman in game three - which caused Smallman's helmet to pop off. Could it be another case of the QMJHL bias in favour of its golden boys???
• Evgeny Svechnikov should likely count his lucky stars. Following a mixup between Phelix Martineau and Sam Povorozniouk in the first period, the Russian star cross checked Bokondji Imama. Fortunately for Svechnikov, the linesmen tackled Imama before he had a chance to fully respond. In game one, Svechnikov slashed Imama. Not sure it's a good idea to poke the bull without expecting to get the horns at some point.
• In other QMJHL playoff action - Shawinigan defeated Charlottetown 6-2 to tie their series 2-2. Also, Gatineau clobbered Moncton 7-1 to take a 2-1 lead. 

TURNING POINT

A three-goal outburst by Cape Breton midway through the third period was massive. 

HIT OF THE GAME

A. Bokonji Imama leveled Tobie Paquette-Bisson along the side boards just after the Screaming Eagle made a forward pass. As has been the case an alarming number of times this season, especially in games between Saint John and Cape Breton, there was no initial penalty call on the play. However, as trainers from both teams attended to the fallen player, Marc-Andre Dumont (seemingly) successfully lobbied the referees to eject Imama.

B. Just 13 seconds into the game, Dillon Boucher hit Bailey Webster along the boards, which literally sent the Sea Dogs defenseman through the glass. A couple of Cape Breton fans were cut by glass.   

STATION NATION PLAYERS OF THE GAME

Pierre-Luc Dubois

Alexandre Belanger

Marc-Antoine Turcotte

TWEET OF THE NIGHT

@DBoucher10 glass breaking hit 👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/K1jPdJTGbp

— CB Screaming Eagles (@CBSEinfo1) April 13, 2016

NEXT GAME
Game five of the best-of-seven playoff series is slated for Friday evening at 7 p.m. at Harbour Station. For Sea Dogs Season Ticket Holders, this will playoff home game six.