RECAP: Hanging On. Dogs Win 4-3.

FINAL: Saint John 3, Cape Breton 4

SYDNEY, NS – The Cape Breton Screaming Eagle’ comeback bid fell just short on Friday night at Centre 200.

The Eagles entered the third period down 4-0 to the Saint John Sea Dogs but stormed back, scoring three straight goals to get within one. But the Sea Dogs managed to hang on and win the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League contest by score of 4-3.

Scott Oke scored twice for Saint John while Zack Phillips and Kevin Gagne added singles. Danick Gauthier had two assists. Goaltender Mathieu Corbeil looked a bit uncomfortable in net at times but still made a few big stops. He allowed three goals on 31 shots in the win.

Bathurst had a pair of goals from Logan Shaw and a solo marker from William Carrier. Philippe Trudreau allowed four goals on 26 shots.

Although Saint John had a rough third period, they didn’t play all that bad through the first two. They were quite opportunistic with their chances in the first period, scoring two goals on just six shots.

The Sea Dogs look to continue their winning ways on Sunday when they play the Moncton Wildcats. It will be the final game of the first half for both clubs.

FIRST PERIOD

Early in the frame, Danick Gauthier leveled Sebastien Payette with a big open ice hit. Moments later, Stephen MacAulay fed Gauthier who had an open cage but sent it high.

Saint John headed to the man advantage at 2:06. On the power play at 3:30, Scott Oke tried to center the puck from along the goal line but it hit a defenseman’s skate and snuck past Eagles ‘tender Philippe Trudeau, giving the Dogs a 1-0 lead.

Then at 4:13, an innocent looking Kevin Gagne shot from along the boards surprised Trudeau. That made it 2-0 Sea Dogs.

The tides started to turn at 5:17 when Ian Saab headed off for high sticking. The Eagles had some good pressure on the power play and a few good chances but couldn’t convert.

A little later on, Oke sped past the Eagles defense and went in alone only to send it wide. Then Dany Potvin was alone in front but couldn’t get a shot off. Lastly, Zack Phillips kept the puck on a two-on-one with Stephen Anderson but sent it off the side of the net.

Cape Breton got plenty of scoring opportunities as the period grew on but Mathieu Corbeil made a few good stops to keep Saint John in the lead. Anderson had a good chance for the Dogs late in frame as the puck rolled through the paint after he tried to jam it in.

Jonathan Brunelle had a good chance for the Eagles late but couldn’t get a shot off.

Shots were 11-6 Eagles in the opening frame.

SECOND PERIOD

Gauthier had a good chance early on in the first period when he stood in the slot and fired a shot right at the shoulder of Trudeau. At 3:12, Denis Creighton and William Cochrane dropped the gloves for a brief wrestling match. Later on, Kyle Campbell tried to jam the puck in past Corbeil but couldn’t. Then, Logan Shaw had an unfortunate break as he hit both posts but couldn’t get a goal.

Saint John headed back to the power play at 6:11. Then at 7:11, Gauthier was along the goal line and fed MacAulay in front. MacAulay quickly passed over to Phillips at the other side and snapped one by Trudeau to make it 3-0 Sea Dogs.

Then at 8:29 and back at even strength, Oke grabbed the puck in the neutral zone and entered the zone. He used Phillips as a decoy, keeping the puck and snipping one by Trudeau to make it a 4-0 game.

The Sea Dogs went back to the man advantage at 10:33. They had some good pressure on once again but were unable to score.

A little later on, David Rose and Potvin had a two-on-one. Rose sent a pass over to a streaking Potvin who got a shot off but nailed the crossbar.

The Eagles headed to their second power play at 17:20 as Saab went off again. William Carrier had a couple cracks at putting the puck in down low but couldn’t. Cape Breton had a pretty solid power play but couldn’t get many great shots on net.

Shots in the middle stanza were 10-9 in favour of the home team.

THIRD PERIOD

The Eagles finally got on the board at 2:40. William Carrier was in front of the goal with a big screen in front of Corbeil. Carrier went top corner to make it a 4-1 contest.

Cape Breton got within two at 3:07. Shaw managed to split the Saint John defense and get a low backhander off that beat Corbeil to make it 4-2.

Saint John was awarded a four-minute power play at the seven-minute mark when Brunelle got his stick up in Oke’s grill. But while shorthanded, the Eagles got within one when Shaw blasted the puck five-hole at 8:05 to make it 4-3. Oh boy.

The Sea Dogs couldn’t get much going during the remainder of the power play.

After some back-and forth play took place midway through the period, both teams got some decent scoring opportunities.

Late in the frame, MacAulay had a good chance in front but sent his backhander wide. Then, Denis Kindl was in the high slot and just missed the cage. Just before the final minute, Anderson fed Oke on a two-on-one but Trudreau slid across the crease to make a huge pad stop.

The Eagles pulled their goaltender late but couldn’t get much going in the final minute.

Shots were 11-10 Saint John in the third period.

The Sea Dogs went 2-for-5 on the power play while the Eagles went 0-for-2.

NOTES: See Sea Dogs Postscript tomorrow on SN.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs travel to Moncton to play the Wildcats on Sunday at 4pm.