FINAL (2OT): Sea Dogs 4, Olympiques 3
GATINEAU, Que. – Ryan Tesink scored the biggest goal in Saint John Sea Dogs history on Wednesday night in Gatineau, giving the team a 4-3 double overtime victory over the Olympiques.
The victory gives Saint John a 3-1 series lead in the President’s Cup final and a chance to book a trip to the MasterCard Memorial Cup on Friday night at Harbour Station.
In Game Four, Tesink, Jonathan Huberdeau, Zack Phillips, and Nathan Beaulieu all scored for the winners. Stanislav Galiev assisted on all four goals. Goaltender Jacob DeSerres came up huge at times and made 35 saves in the win.
Gatineau had a pair of goals from Philip-Michael Devos and a single marker from Tye McGinn. Maxime Clermont was the reason this game went so long, making 60 stops in the loss.
It was an unreal game at the Robert Guertin Centre. A highly entertaining back-and-forth affair that was capped off with some thrilling sessions of overtime.
Gatineau opened up the scoring but then Saint John took the lead. Then Gatineau retook the lead until Beaulieu tied it at 3-3 in the third period. The Olympiques could have changed the entire series in the first overtime but couldn’t connect on a long five-on-three power play.
Combined with the goaltending performance of Clermont and the bad ice at the old barn, you wondered if this game would ever end. It was the longest game in Sea Dogs history and the longest match in the history of the President’s Cup finals.
FIRST PERIOD
On the opening rush of the game Gatineau had a two-on-one chance but Pierre Durepos made a nice play to stop the puck from hitting the net. Then, the Olympiques had another two-on-one moments later with Christian Ouellet having his shot stopped by the glove of Sea Dogs netminder Jacob DeSerres.
Gatineau opened the scoring at 6:29. Saint John failed to clear the zone and Philip-Michael Devos picked it up at the dot and beat DeSerres five-hole to make it 1-0.
It was all Gatineau early on until, slowly, Saint John started to turn on the engines. With Maxime Clermont down, Gabriel Bourret let a shot go that was just padded away by the pad of Clermont. The ‘Piques then had another chance as Philippe Halley let a shot go in front and Jean-Gabriel Pageau sent the rebound off the crossbar.
Gatineau went to the power play at 11:10 as Jonathan Huberdeau headed off. The ‘Piques didn’t have many chances and failed to score. Huberdeau came out of the box but was stopped by the pad of Clermont when using his usual move. Then, Eric Gelinas unloaded on Igor Levitsky in front of the Gatineau bench.
Saint John tied the match at 16:44. Zack Phillips carried the puck behind the goal and sent it out in front for Stanislav Galiev. The Russian then passed to Huberdeau through the crease who had an open cage to make it a 1-1 game.
17 seconds later, Simon Despres let a point shot go that produced a big rebound. Phillips snipped the rebound over Clermont to give the Dogs a 2-1 lead.
The Sea Dogs had a power play at 18:04. They had unlimited chances on the man advantage but just couldn’t connect for another goal.
Saint John outshot Gatineau 13-12 in the first period.
SECOND PERIOD
Just as the period started, DeSerres made three unreal stops to keep Saint John in the lead. Gatineau had some early pressure but that was quickly matched by Saint John.
Galiev was down low and had some room but was stopped by the blocker of Clermont. A few minutes later, Jason Cameron was in the middle of some traffic and sailed a backhand just wide.
Saint John went to the power play at 5:31 as Adam Janosik went to the box. Gatineau had a good chance while shorthanded as Halley had a partial break but could only get a weak shot off. The Dogs couldn’t get much going on the man advantage.
When the power play expired, Phillips was in the slot area but was stopped by the blocker of Clermont. A few moments later, Ryan Tesink sent a shot between a defenseman’s legs and nearly fooled Clermont but he made the quick reaction stop.
The Olympiques had some pressure late in the period. Devos let a shot go from the boards but it just sailed wide. Then, Janosik sent a shot along the goal line that was padded by DeSerres and he covered the rebound. Later on, the puck went through the crease but it stayed out.
Huberdeau headed to the box at 19:38 to give the ‘Piques a power play to start the third period.
Shots were 10-7 Saint John in the middle frame.
THIRD PERIOD
The Olympiques tied the match at 1:08 on the power play that carried over. A shot from inside the line was stopped by DeSerres but Tye McGinn banged in the rebound to tie it at 2-2.
Gatineau pulled ahead at 1:58. The Olympiques entered the zone a two-on-two rush with McGinn threading a pass ahead to Devos who scored to make it a 3-2 match.
Then Saint John began to take over the period as Galiev came down the wing and hit the post. Then a few minutes later, the Russian cut in front but was denied by the pad of Clermont.
The Sea Dogs went to the power play at 5:46 as Tommy Tremblay was called for tripping. On the ensuing man advantage, a Despres shot was stopped but Beaulieu hammered the rebound over a fallen Clermont to tie the match up at 3-3.
After the goal, Huberdeau went one-on-one with a defender and let a slap shot go that was stopped. Then, Beaulieu fired a point shot through some traffic that just went wide. Finally, Kevin Gagne ripped a shot just high and wide.
Alexnadre Beauregard had a great chance late in the period but was robbed by Clermont. Despite a furious attempt by Saint John in the final minute, the match headed to overtime.
Shots in the final frame of regulation were 13-6 Saint John.
FIRST OVERTIME
Beauregard had a chance early on but couldn’t connect. Then some back-and-forth action took place with both teams playing some cautious hockey.
At 4:36, Stephen MacAulay was called for boarding. Then, at 5:12, Pierre Durepos was called for tripping, giving the ‘Piques a long five-on-three power play. But the Sea Dogs pulled off the biggest penalty kill in franchise history, shutting down Gatineau and keeping the game tied.
Soon after the power play ended, Huberdeau came down the wing and fired a shot off Clermont’s shoulder. Then Clermont came up huge by making a big toe stop on MacAulay.
Neither had terrific scoring chances in the frame and the contest would need a second overtime.
Shots were 9-9 in the first session of extra time.
SECOND OVERTIME
Thomas had a chance early on in the slot but Clermont made the save. MacAulay was there to pick up the rebound but was also denied. Then a few minutes later Thomas ringed a shot off the post.
Gatineau would then have a few opportunities to end it. Halley made a spin move in front but DeSerres stayed with him and kept it out. After Ouellet missed just wide, Halley was sprung on a partial breakaway but was taken down cleanly byGelinas.
Then at 19:16, Tesink caused a turnover inside the Gatineau zone. Galiev picked it up and skated down to the icing line where he centered for Tesink. The Saint John native fired it past Clermont to give the Dogs an epic 4-3 double overtime win.
Shots in the second OT were 19-4 Saint John.
NOTES: See Sea Dogs Postscript later on SN.
NEXT GAME: Game Five of the President’s Cup final is Friday at 7:30 pm at Harbour Station. The game is completely sold out.
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