FINAL: Sea Dogs 2, Rocket 5
By Station Nation Staff
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Simply put, it was a rough night in Prince Edward Island for the Saint John Sea Dogs.
For only the seventh time this season, the Sea Dogs dropped a regulation Quebec Major Junior Hockey League contest. The PEI Rocket jumped out to a 3-0 lead and never looked back, going on to defeat Canada’s top-ranked junior team 5-2.
PEI had come close to beating the Dogs a few times this season and were finally rewarded for their efforts at the Charlottetown Civic Centre Wednesday. As usual, netminder Evan Mosher was a main reason as to why the Rocket were able to hang with and take down the Sea Dogs. Mosher made 37 saves in net – many of them in incredible fashion - and was third star of the game.
Scoring for the winners were Ben Duffy with two, Olivier Croteau, Travis McIsaac, and Alex Noel.
From a Sea Dogs perspective, this was just an ugly game. Were they tired from all the travelling last week? Were they sick and beat up? Or were they just not prepared for the contest since, in terms of standings and playoff positioning, had no meaning? Who knows, but the Saint John just didn’t have it tonight.
The offense had trouble getting any momentum going and the defense was a bit sloppy and unorganized all night long. But give the Rocket credit, they were able to shutdown the most offensively gifted team in the league for over two periods.
Jonathan Huberdeau and Tomas Jurco scored the lone goals for the Dogs. Jacob DeSerres, making his first start in over a week, made 24 saves in the loss. It was DeSerres’ first loss of 2011.
The game did have some meaning though as the loss means the Sea Dogs will not be able to break the all-time QMJHL single-season wins record. They can, however, still tie the mark if they can win their final two games of the season.
FIRST PERIOD
Jonathan Huberdeau took a hooking penalty 26 seconds into the match to give the Rocket a power play. But it was the Sea Dogs having the better of the chances as Alexandre Beuregard threaded a pass to Steven Anthony who just shot the puck wide. Saint John would keep applying some pressure and had a solid penalty kill.
Anthony had another chance moments later back at even strength as he was stopped by Rocket netminder Evan Mosher on the rebound.
The Rocket then had a few minutes of applied pressure. Ben Duffy had a good opportunity as he crept off the boards and cut in front, forcing Sea Dogs goaltender Jacob DeSerres to make a nice pad stop.
Saint John then started to get things going again. Zack Phillips was in the slot and had nothing but a Rocket defenseman between him and the net but sent a shot off the players stick.
Not long after, Eric Gelinas created a great scoring opportunity off a big shot from inside the line. The rebound was there in front for Ryan Tesink but was absolutely robbed by the leather of Mosher. Then Mosher made another incredible stop, denying Huberdeau with a diving paddle stop to keep the match scoreless.
It wouldn’t remain scoreless for long as PEI opened up the scoring at 17:33. A long shot went off the boards and bounced in front of DeSerres but out of his reach. Olivier Croteau was able to beat DeSerres high blocker with a wrist shot thanks to the bounce, giving the Rocket a 1-0 lead heading into the intermission.
Shots in the first period were 9-8 in favour of PEI.
SECOND PERIOD
Beauregard had a good opportunity early on his nailed the crossbar with a blast. The shot went under a brief review to see if it snuck in but it did not. The Dogs kept the pressure on though as a pass from down low found Stephen MacAulay in front who beat a down Mosher but not the post.
At 4:45, Beaulieu was sent to the box for high sticking. The Rocket had some okay pressure but nothing great and exited the man advantage still up just one goal.
Saint John then almost took the head off Mosher as a Tomas Jurco wrister from the dot hit the goaltender in the mask. The Rocket then almost scored again but Beaulieu took the net off as the puck floated into the crease, creating a whistle and fortunately no other penalties.
MacAulay had another good opportunity moments later as a pass found him as he streaked to the net but was stopped.
The Sea Dogs went to a power play at 11:14 but couldn’t get anything going and remained down a goal.
The Rocket found the back-of-the-net again at 13:50. A shot from along the boards was stopped by the toe of DeSerres but the puck rolled to the stick of Ben Duffy who backhanded the puck in to make it 2-0 for the home side.
Saint John was stunned to shock at 14:16. Two Sea Dogs defenseman dropped like flies, allowing Duffy to skate around the fallen soldiers and dish a pass to Travis McIsaac who tipped it into the empty cage to give the Rocket a 3-0 advantage.
The Dogs had a chance to get things back on track at 14:56 as they went to a man advantage. Jurco had a great chance as he backhanded the puck straight through the crease but nobody was there to bang it home. It was a good power play, but the Dogs had nothing to show for it.
Shots in the middle stanza were 14-12 Saint John.
THIRD PERIOD
Things got off to a good start in the third period for the Sea Dogs. Just 26 seconds in, Adam Polasek took an interference call and gave the Sea Dogs a man advantage. On the ensuing power play, Nathan Beaulieu ripped a shot wide with the puck bouncing off the backboards and finding its way in front. Stanislav Galiev couldn’t hammer one past Mosher and then Huberdeau was robbed as well. Saint John had some great power play pressure but just couldn’t get a key goal.
Finally, at 4:07, Huberdeau was able to bang home his 42nd of the season as the puck lay in the crease, cutting the Rocket’s to just two goals.
But all that momentum was quickly put on shelf again as PEI made it a three goal game again 20 seconds later. A pass from between the circles found Duffy at the side of the goal who had an easy tap in to make it 4-1 PEI.
Soon after Phillips was denied by the glove of Mosher, Galiev took a slashing penalty at 10:36. The Sea Dogs once again had a solid penalty kill and some shorthanded pressure.
The Dogs were awarded a power play of their own at 14:52. Saint John would find the back-of-the-net on the ensuing man advantage at 16:26. After Mosher let a rebound go, Jurco was at the top of the crease and was in good position to pot his 31st of the season to make it a 4-2 game.
Saint John pulled DeSerres with a ridiculous amount of time left. They were able to mount some pressure until Alex Noel crushed any dreams of a comeback bid at 18:20 with an empty net mark.
Tesink and Scott Oke both had some decent scoring chances in the final minute but it would not matter as the Rocket shot down the Dogs 5-2.
Shots in the third period were 17-8 Saint John.
NOTES: See Sea Dogs Postscript tomorrow on SN.
NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles Friday at 7:30 pm at Harbour Station. Ticket availability is limited.
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