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| Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs |
On Tuesday, the Wildcats needed just nine seconds – and it was a sign of things to come. Moncton scored three times in the first period in a 6-0 win over the Sea Dogs at TD Station to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven first round series.
The Wildcats can complete the series sweep on Wednesday night in Saint John.
The game felt like it was over quick with the Wildcats jumping out to a quick start. Kuzma Voronin opened the scoring and then Alex Mercier and Gavin Cornforth scored less than a minute apart halfway through the period. Shots ended 12-3 in favour of the Wildcats in the first.
Starts have been an issue for the Wildcats in this series – but you wouldn't know it by Tuesday's performance. The Sea Dogs scored first in both games one and two.
Saint John had a better showing in the second and third periods but the game was out of reach. Arseni Radkov was pulled in the second period after allowing five goals on 15 shots. Rafaël Courchesne made 24 saves in relief.
Voronin had a pair of goals for Moncton while singles came from Mercier, Cornforth, Simon Binkley and Preston Lounsbury. Rudy Guimond made 22 saves in the win.
LINEUP
Fullerton - Groulx - Donovan
Morin - Joseph - Seymour
Côté - Yared - Rozzi
Héroux - Krayer - Gauthier
Wasmer - Duhamel
Damphousse - Chartrand
Magnusson - Baldwin
Radkov
Courchesne
SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forward Olivers Murnieks (injury) along with defensemen Vincent Croteau (healthy) and Oskar Drabczynski (healthy).
NOTES: The Sea Dogs went with 12 forwards and six defensemen... defenseman Oskar Drabczynski was the final scratch... the Sea Dogs debuted their dark Under Armour jerseys... the Sea Dogs debuted a new intro video... after opening the scoring in the first two games of the series, the Sea Dogs allowed the game's first goal just nine seconds in on Tuesday. It's the fastest goal the Sea Dogs have ever allowed to start a playoff game... the Sea Dogs didn't record a shot on goal until 5:44 into the first period... Gavin Cornforth scored his fifth goal of the series. He has scored at least once in all three games... former Sea Dogs defenseman Max Vilen had two assists for Moncton... Dylan Rozzi, Bo Damphousse and Angelo Fullerton each had three shots... faceoffs were 30-18 in favour of Moncton... this was Rudy Guimond's second career playoff shutout... attendance was 2,358.
HIGHLIGHTS
NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs and Wildcats meet again tomorrow night for Game 4 at TD Station. Game time is, once again, 7 p.m.
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