SAINT JOHN – It was David "DK" Kelly night at Harbour Station Friday evening. But the Saint John Sea Dogs' spirited comeback fell short in another tough loss - this time 4-3 in a shootout to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.
The Sea Dogs honoured DK during an emotional ceremony prior to the game to recognize his 800th match behind the bench. Much like his idol (and former lead singer of The Tragically Hip) Gord Downey, DK's courageous battle to "live with cancer" has been a major source of inspiration to his #TeamDK followers around the world.
After on-ice presentations of mementos from Game 800 on Thursday by team owners, players as well as his Mom, sister and nephew (DK's motivation for the infamous monkey bandaid tattoo), a series of video tributes were played from friends, colleagues and former players such as:
- Jeff Marek and Colby Armstrong (Sportsnet CHL Hockey)
- Oliver Felixson - who is also living with cancer and recovering in Finland
- Majority Owner Scott McCain
- Sea Dogs Memorial Cup coach Gerard Gallant (now with Vegas Golden Knights)
- Alex Grant (Sea Dogs inaugural draft choice)
- UNB Varsity Reds Mike Thomas, Olivier LeBlanc, Matt Murphy, Stephen Anderson and Oliver Cooper
- Matthew Highmore (now with AHL Rockford)
- Ron McLean and Tara Sloan (Sportsnet's Hometown Hockey)
- QMJHL Commissioner Gilles Courteau
- Jonathan Huberdeau (Sea Dogs inaugural Hall of Fame member and current Florida Panther)
- Thomas Chabot (Ottawa/Belleville Senators)
- Sam Cosentino (Sportsnet CHL Hockey)
As for the game itself, a 52 save performance by Justin Blanchette (49 in regulation and overtime plus all three in the shootout) and a shootout goal by Edouard St-Laurent proved to be the difference in this contest.
Jordan Martel had a pair of goals for the Drakkar and Gabriel Fortier added another.
Robbie Burt, Nicholas Deakin-Poot and Daniel Hardie replied for the Sea Dogs after the hosts had fallen behind 3-0 early in the second period. Alex D'Orio had 31 saves in total for Saint John.
NOTES
- Other than a forgettable five-minute stretch in the first half of the second period, the Sea Dogs controlled much of the play but were not rewarded for their grit, determination and hard work.
- The hosts held a 16-7 shot on goal advantage in the opening frame but were unable to beat Blanchette.
- Martel scored at 1:31 of the second - on a laser from the right face-off dot off a rush - and again on a power play at 5:53 - with a one-timer slap shot off a cross ice feed from Bradley Lalonde.
- Fortier followed up just under 20 seconds later when he banged home the rebound of a Lalonde point shot.
- Deakin-Poot started the comeback with his first QMJHL goal, which came on a heavy wrist shot from the high slot at 8:32 of the second.
- Burt caught a 'Hail Mary' pass from Cole Reginato in the neutral zone, broke away all alone and scored on a lovely deke to the five-hole at 10:06 of the second.
- In the last minute of the second, Radim Salda made a huge defensive play when he stripped Martel of the puck just as the Drakkar sniper was about to complete a deke around D'Orio.
- Hardie capped the comeback - on a power play at 6:40 of the third - when he banged the puck past Blanchette off a mad scramble.
- About two minutes after Hardie's goal, D'Orio turned in his highlight of the night save when he absolutely robbed Martel by leaping across the crease to block a booming slap shot from the slot.
- St-Laurent scored on a beautiful deke to his backhand to open the shootout but that was it for scoring.
- An apparent goal by Burt was deemed to have not fully crossed the line.
LINEUP
SCRATCHESHere is tonight's lineup for your #SJSeaDogs against the visiting @DrakkardeBaieCo brought to you by @CantrburyDental #AlwaysWearYourMouthGuard pic.twitter.com/uJLSEkFzbD— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) November 10, 2017
Cedric Pare remained out with an upper body injury. Samuel Leblanc, Alex Lafreniere and Samuel Duchesne were healthy scratches.
TURNING POINT
Three goals by the Drakkar early in the second period proved to be too much of a hole to fully climb out of for the snake bitten Sea Dogs.
SN STARS OF THE GAME
1. Justin Blanchette
2. Jordan Martel
3. Robbie Burt
NEXT GAME
Saint John travels to Halifax next Friday, Nov. 17, to face the Mooseheads at 7 p.m.
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