Streak Stops At Seven

FINAL: Saint John 3, Rimouski 4

RIMOUSKI, Que. – It wasn’t a great night for the Saint John Sea Dogs on Wednesday in Rimouski.

The Sea Dogs took some costly penalties in a 4-3 loss to the Oceanic in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play at Colisee de Rimouski, costing them a shot at their eighth straight victory. The Oceanic scored two power play goals – including the game winner – on five opportunities.

The game winner, scored by Fredericton native Peter Trainor, featured some controversy as it appeared he hooked Kevin Gagne just prior to scoring. No call was made which made, causing an uproar on the Saint John bench. 

It wasn’t the Sea Dogs’ worst game of the season by any means but it certainly wasn’t their best, either. They did outshoot Rimouski 38-24 in the game which included an 11-3 shots advantage in the middle frame.

Saint John scored first but the game was tied 2-2 after one. Rimouski took the lead in the second but the match was tied up at 3-3 heading into the third. Trainor scored the winner at 11:22 of the final stanza.

Jonathan Huberdeau scored twice for Saint John while Danick Gauthier added the other marker. Mathieu Corbeil allowed four goals on 24 shots in the loss.

Petr Straka, Jean-Francois Plante, Alexandre Mallet and Peter Trainor all scored for Rimouski. Jacob Chouinard allowed three goals on 38 shots.

FIRST PERIOD

Jonathan Huberdeau made it 1-0 at 2:43 of the opening frame. The CHL Player of the Week was stopped on his first attempt but collected his own rebound to give Saint John the lead.

Rimouski tied the match up at 1-1 5:49 as Petr Straka beat fellow Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Mathieu Corbeil.

Ryan Tesink had a great chance following the goal as he entered the zone on a two-on-one. Tesink kept and shot only to have Rimouski ‘tender Jacob Chouinard make two stops.

The Sea Dogs retook the lead at 8:51 as the puck skimmed past the blocker of Chouinard. Everyone seemed to think Zack Phillips had scored but credit was given to Huberdeau.

Not longer after Chouinard made a big stop on Huberdeau, Oliver Cooper was hooked on a breakaway but no call was made. Then, Peter Trainor had a break but Jason Cameron made a solid play to break it up.

At 16:37, Ian Saab somehow managed to take two penalties on the same play to give Rimouski a a huge power play opportunity. On the man advantage with just nine seconds to play in the period, Jean-Francois Plante potted his eighth of the year to make it 2-2 after one.

Shots were 18-11 Saint John in the first.

SECOND PERIOD

Phillips had a good chance early on by cutting in front. But Chouinard stayed with him and made the pad stop. After the scoring opportunity, some back-and-forth play took place.

Rimouski took the lead at 7:22. Trainor gained possession of the puck along the icing line and tossed in front. Alexandre Mallet grabbed it and beat Corbeil to give the Oceanic a 3-2 advantage.

Danick Gauthier got back to his scoring ways at 9:05 to tie the match up again. Following a turnover in the Rimouski zone, Gauthier ripped the puck past Chouinard to make it 3-3.

Saint John went to the power play at 15:27 as Straka was called for kneeing. On the man advantage, the Dogs had some good pressure on but failed to score.

Saint John dominated the second period shot tally, outshooting the Oceanic 11-3.

THIRD PERIOD

Rimouski headed to the power play 1:08 as Jurco headed to the box but the Dogs managed to kill it off. At 8:18, Phillips was called for tripping to send Rimouski back to the man advantage. The Oceanic had some good pressure on but could not beat Corbeil and the Sea Dogs.

During a scrum at 10:26, Saab took yet another penalty to put Rimouski back on the man advantage for the third time in the frame. At 11:21, Trainor scored to put Rimouski up 4-3. The Saint John bench was livid about the goal as it appeared Trainor hooked Kevin Gagne just prior to scoring but no call was made.

Saint John went to the power play at 14:28 as Samuel Morin headed off. But the Sea Dogs failed to capitalize on the huge opportunity to tie the match.

The Dogs had some solid pressure in the final minutes but couldn’t tie it up.

Shots were 10-9 Rimouski in the final frame.

Saint John went 0-for-2 on the power play while Rimouski went 2-for-5.

NOTES: See Sea Dogs Postscript tomorrow on SN.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs travel to Baie-Comeau on Friday to take on the Drakkar at 8:30pm.