FINAL: Screaming Eagles 1, Sea Dogs 8
SAINT JOHN – It took 56 seconds for this game to get of reach for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
The Saint John Sea Dogs scored three goals in that time framelate in the first period in an 8-1 rout over the Screaming Eagles Friday night at Harbour Station in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. According to News 88.9, it was the fastest three goals scored in club history.
Speaking of history, Saint John is now just one win away from tying the QMJHL record for wins a single season with 58. The team can meet that mark this Sunday when they host the Prince Edward Island Rocket at 4:00 pm and can also become the first team in QMJHL history to go a full season without losing a regulation game at home.
Stanislav Galiev had a pair of goals while Stephen MacAulay, Steven Anthony, Danick Gauthier, Pierre Durepos, and Alexandre Beauregard had singles. Jacob DeSerres made a few good stops but wasn’t tested a whole lot, making 24 saves to earn the win.
Ryan Tesink added three assists and Durepos had a pair.
Saint John dominated the entirety of this game. They were even missing their captain Mike Thomas and one of the most offensively dangerous players in Michael Kirkpatrick.
This, of course, was a first-round playoff preview as these two teams meet next Friday at Harbour Station. The last two Eagle games in Saint John have both featured the Sea Dogs scoring eight goals. It could be a long series for Cape Breton.
The visitors only goal came from Logan Shaw in the second period on a power play. Goaltender Andrew Hayes allowed four goals on 15 first period shots. He gave way for Alexandre Veronneau in the second period but he didn’t fair match better, allowing four goals on 24 shots.
FIRST PERIOD
The Sea Dogs went to an early power play just 52 seconds into the game but could not get much pressure on. Not long after at 4:06, Saint John went back to the man advantage. This time the Dogs would get things going. Zack Phillips was at the side of the goal but was denied by the pad pad of Eagles netminder Andrew Hayes. Then an Eric Gelinas point shot hit a body and deflected wide.
At 6:28, it was yet another Saint John power play as William Carrier headed off. The Dogs would finally connect at 7:30 as a Pierre Durepos shot was stopped. Aidan Kelly was in front to pick up the garbage and make it a 1-0 game.
After Saint John killed off a penalty, they went back to the penalty kill at 12:03 as Gelinas was called for hooking. Cory MacIntosh was left alone in the slot but sent a shot just off the outside of the post.
Just after a Stanislav Galiev penalty ended at 17:32, the Dogs broke in on a three-on-none but sent a shot wide. On the following Saint John rush, Galiev came down the wing and cut in front, pakring at the side of the goal. He roofed the puck over the shoulder of Hayes to make it 2-0.
Saint John kept on coming at 18:07. A shot went wide and stuck behind the goal. Ryan Tesink picked it up and wrapped the disc on goal but was stopped. Alexandre Beauregard was there to pick up the rebound and beat Hayes to make it 3-0.
The furious action didn’t stop there as a shot was stopped at 18:46. Tesink had the puck at the dot and threw a backhander on goal that found Stephen MacAulay alone in front. He simply inserted the puck into the empty goal to make it 4-0 for the home team.
At 19:09, Saint John went back to the man advantage. Jason Cameron had a great chance but was denied by a nice shoulder stop by Hayes.
Shots in the first period were 15-9 Saint John.
SECOND PERIOD
Alexandre Veronneau came in to replace Hayes in the Eagles crease to start the second. He was tested early as Saint John opened the frame up on the power play. Huberdeau had the best chance as he waited at the side of the net and had a clear lane but had his opportunity blocked.
With the man advantage over, Huberdeau fed Galiev in front but was robbed by Veronneau.
At 5:59, Danick Gauthier was fed as he walked across the blue line and beat Veronneau with a snipe to make it 5-0 Sea Dogs.
Marshall Worden and Blake Millman dropped the gloves at 8:20. Both players got some good shots in before they fell to the ice.
Jurco kept the pressure on moments later as he went alone but lost the puck in the crease. Then, Nathan Beaulieu just whistled the puck wide from the dot.
The Eagles had a power play at 10:41. There best chance came via a breakaway but was robbed by Saint John goaltender Jacob DeSerres.
On another power play, Cape Breton connected. At the six-minute mark, Logan Shaw fired a shot that beat DeSerres down low to make it a 5-1 game.
Saint John was awarded a four-minute penalty at 19:17. Jurco had the first chance through a screen but was robbed by the pad of Veronneau. Then, a Gabriel Bourret point pass found Phillips at the side but sent it wide. Bourret fired a another point shot moments later that found Galiev in front but was stopped by the toe of the Eagles netminder. It was a great power play by Saint John, closed off by Steven Anthony being stopped another great opportunity.
Worden was called for slashing at 19:17 and Beauregard called for high sticking at the 20-minute mark, giving the Eagles a long man advantage to open the second.
Shots in the second period were 13-7 Saint John.
THIRD PERIOD
The Screaming Eagles opened the third period on a two-man advantage. After one of the penalties ended, Worden took another penalty at 1:28. Carrier had an open net at the side of the cage on the power play but sent it wide.
With all of the penalties over, Saint John went back to work. Galiev had the puck and skated into the crease area, making a move and then finding a hole between Veronneau and the post to make it 6-1 Sea Dogs.
Bourret and Olivier Jodoin dropped the gloves at 5:31. It was a pretty good scrap with Bourret getting some good shots in near the end.
At 6:46 on another man advantage, Beaulieu threaded a perfect pass to Steven Anthony down low. Anthony made some nice stick work to find an opening on Veronneau and give the Sea Dogs a 7-1 advantage.
Cape Breton had a couple of good chances after the marker. The Eagles dinged one off the post and then a few moments later Cory MacIntosh hit the iron as well. After the sudden emergence of the Eagles' offense, the Dogs had a great chance as Jurco tipped a shot on net that was stopped by Veronneau.
At 13:38, Raman Hrabarenka nailed Jurco in the corner. Gauthier came in and got into a mini-scrap with the Eagles import. Saint John would get a power play out of that and had some decent chances but could not add to their lead.
With Aidan Kelly in the sin bin at 16:10, DeSerres made one of his best stops by stretching out to rob Denis Kindl in close.
Back at even strength, Saint John closed out the scoring at 19:03. A pass from the corner found Pierre Durepos who scored his third of the season to make it an 8-1 final.
Shots in the third frame were 11-9 Sea Dogs.
NOTES: See Sea Dogs Postscript tomorrow on SN.
NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the PEI Rocket Sunday at 4:00 pm at Harbour Station in the final regular season game of the year for both clubs.
Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation
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