A Banner Night

FINAL: Chicoutimi 0, Saint John 6

SAINT JOHN – The Saint John Sea Dogs played like champions on Saturday night.

On ‘Night of Champions’ night at Harbour Station, the Sea Dogs dominated the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, winning their seventh straight game by score of 6-0.

Zack Phillips had a pair of goals while Jonathan Huberdeau, Ryan Tesink, Tomas Jurco and Grant West added solo markers. Huberdeau also had three assists.

Goaltender Mathieu Corbeil continued his strong play, stopping all 14 shots he faced. It was his third shutout in four games.

The Dogs dominated most of the match, holding the Sagueneens to just eight shots through two periods and 14 in total. Saint John fired 33 shots on the Chicoutimi goal. Christopher Gibson allowed five goals on 26 shots while Francis Desrosiers made six stops in relief.

Prior to the game, the Sea Dogs honoured team staff, coaches and players of last year’s Memorial Cup championship team. Championship rings were handed out and the President’s Cup and Memorial Cup banners were raised to the rafters.

On a night the Sea Dogs honoured the past, they showed that the future looks quite promising as well.

Chicoutimi went to the power play at 4:46 as Phillips headed off for high sticking but the Sea Dogs would kill it off. Saint John then headed to the man advantage at 9:18 but couldn’t do much.

West headed to the box at 13:05. While shorthanded, Tesink sped away from the Chicoutimi defense. He beat Gibson with a hard backhander to make it a 1-0 Sea Dogs lead.

Saint John made it a 2-0 affair at 19:23 as Jurco jammed a loose puck under Gibson to double Saint John’s lead.

Shots were 17-4 in favour of the Sea Dogs after one.

West scored his first career QMJHL goal 7:55. Playing on the top line with Huberdeau and Phillips, West went upstairs on Gibson to make it 3-0 Sea Dogs.

Saint John made it a 4-0 affair at 11:12. Huberdeau was parked behind the net and sent a perfect pass to an open Phillips in front who snipped one by the Chicoutimi netminder.

The Sagueneens went back to the man advantage at 11:54 but couldn’t get much going.

At 14:05, after a bit of a scramble in the crease, Phillips sent a shot on net from an impossible angle, beating Gibson and making it a 5-0 Sea Dogs lead.

Saint John went to the power play at 15:29 as ex-teammate Alexandre Beauregard headed off. But the Dogs failed to add to their lead.

Ian Saab headed to the sin bin late, giving  Chicoutimi a power play opportunity to open up the third period. Once again, they would not be able to connect.

Shots were 9-4 Saint John in the second.

At 3:14, West and Beauregard dropped the gloves for a decent scrap.  Not long after, the Sags had a good scoring opportunity as they hit the post. Then, Andrew O’Brien levelled West with a big hit.

The Sea Dogs made it 6-0 at 11:43. Charles-Olivier Roussel sent a perfect pass to a streaking Huberdeau. The Florida Panthers prospect made a move to his backhand and beat Desrosiers  to add to Saint John’s lead.

Late in the game, Danick Gauthier had a wide open net but missed. Then with 19 seconds remaining, Corbeil made one of his better saves of the night as he snagged a quick shot with the glove.

Shots in the final stanza were 7-6 Sea Dogs.

Chicoutimi went 0-for-4 on the power play while Saint John went 0-for-3.

NOTES: See Sea Dogs Postscript tomorrow on SN.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs travel to Rimouski on Wednesday to face the Oceanic at 8:30pm.