Sea Dogs Defeat Eagles 6-3

FINAL: Cape Breton 3, Saint John 6

SAINT JOHN – The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles were able to outshoot the Saint John Sea Dogs on Friday night at Harbour Station but weren’t able to beat them on the scoreboard.

The Sea Dogs downed the Eagles 6-3 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action, giving them their sixth consecutive victory.

Jonathan Huberdeau scored twice while Zack Phillips, Stephen MacAulay, Danick Gauthier and Ryan Tesink added singles. Mathieu Corbeil saw his shutout streak end but still got the win. He made 34 saves in the victory.

It wasn’t Saint John’s best performance nor was it dominating like last weekend’s games. But it got the job done.

Morgan Ellis, David Rose and Kyle Campbell each had goals in the loss. Alexandre Veronneau allowed six goals on 34 shots. Cape Breton was able to outshoot the Dogs in every period except the first. Total shots were 37-34 in favour of the visitors.

Cape Breton went to the power play at 2:20 as Aidan Kelly headed off for high sticking. On the man advantage, the Eagles had some decent pressure but couldn’t get many shots on net. While shorthanded, Gauthier was denied by the pad of Veronneau.

Later on in the frame, Corbeil made a couple of big pad stops. Jurco grabbed the puck and headed up ice, making an unreal move to get around his man as he crossed the blue line. He passed over to Huberdeau who beat Veronneua with a deke to give Saint John a 1-0 lead at 9:22.

Saint John headed to the man advantage at the 12-minute mark and then a two-man advantage at 12:59. The Dogs had puck possession for much of the power play much failed to add to their lead.

The Eagles put some shots on net late in the frame, giving Saint John a 10-9 shots advantage after one.

Saint John went to the power play 34 seconds into the middle stanza. On the man advantage, Jurco sent the puck through the crease to Huberdeau who went upstairs to make it a 2-0 Saint John game.

The Eagles headed to the power play at 2:41. At 2:48, Ellis blasted a point shot that ended Corbeil’s shutout streak and make it a one-goal game.

The Sea Dogs retook their two-goal lead at 8:20. Gauthier came out in front but fanned on his initial attempt. He regrouped and sent a weak wrister in on Veronneau that went under his leg to make it a 3-1.

MacAulay made it a 4-1 contest at 15:06 as he slipped one by Veronneau.

After Huberdeau was nailed along the boards, Jurco and Logan Shaw dropped the gloves in the neutral zone for a short tilt that saw minimal contact made. On the power play at 17:24, Tesink netted his fifth of the year to make it a 5-1 affair.

Oliver Cooper headed to the box at 18:15 but the Dogs would kill it off.

Shots were 17-14 Screaming Eagles in the second.

Phillips scored at 3:42 of the third period to give Saint John a 6-1 lead. The birthday boy had the puck in the slot and shot top corner blocker side to extend the Dogs’ lead.

Cape Breton headed to the power play at 4:38 but couldn't connect during the advantage.

Tesink was called for diving at 10:04, giving the Eagles a power play. Cape Breton hit the post on the man advantage and that would be their best chance during the span.

A little later on, the Eagles had a two-on-one but Jean-Simon Deslauriers missed the puck.

Cape Breton made it a 6-2 match 2:24 to play. A point shot was stopped by Corbeil but the rebound bounced to Rose who potted his third of the year.

The Eagles weren't done there. At 18:24, Corbeil tried to poke the puck away with his stick but missed, causing him to be out of position. Campbell capitalized on the error, scoring to make it a three-goal game. But it was too little, too late for Cape Breton as the Dogs went on to win 6-3.

Shots in the final frame were 11-10 in favour of the Eagles.

Cape Breton went 1-for-6 on the power play while Saint John went 2-for-4.

NOT PLAYING: Forwards Stanislav Galiev (broken wrist) and Devon Oliver-Dares (personal reasons) along with defenseman Tyrone Sock (healthy) did not play.

WEST DEBUT: Forward Grant West, who was claimed off waivers earlier this week, made his Sea Dogs debut. He wore No. 26, assisted on Danick Gauthier’s second period goal, recorded one shot and had three hits.

CORBEIL ASSIST: Mathieu Corbeil picked up his first career regular season assist in the first period, helping setup Jonathan Huberdeau’s marker. The goaltender had an assist in last year’s playoffs as well.

STREAK ENDS: Morgan Ellis’ goal at 2:48 of the second period ended Corbeil’s shutout streak at 144:43. The streak is a team-record.

PIZZA GAME: First intermission pizza-Frisbee-toss game was totally rigged. Pizza wasn’t even close to centre ice. Big time advantage to the throwers on the Sea Dogs bench side.

ATTENDANCE: Only 3,236 attended the game. Yikes.

FIGHTS: Tomas Jurco dropped the gloves for the first time in his career on Friday night. He and Logan Shaw were involved in a short scrap at 17:04 of the middle frame.

HIGHLIGHTS: Courtesy of SeaDogsTV.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the Chicoutimi Sagueneens tomorrow night at 7pm at Harbour Station. The Sea Dogs will raise their Memorial Cup championship banners and hand out their rings prior to the game.