SAINT JOHN – The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada hung around
but weren’t able to contain the Saint John Sea Dogs on Sunday afternoon in
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League at Harbour Station.
The Armada stayed within one of the Sea Dogs until Danick
Gauthier scored twice late in third period to give Saint John a 6-3 victory. It
was the Sea Dogs’ fifth straight win and pushed them back into first-place in
the QMJHL standings.
Along with Gauthier’s two goals, Ian Saab, Zack Phillips,
Tomas Jurco and Jonathan Huberdeau also scored for the winners. Jurco, Charlie
Coyle and Charles Roussel each added two assists. Mathieu Corbeil made 33 saves
to pick up his 28th win of the season, a new team record.
The Sea Dogs’ power play was clicking on Sunday
afternoon, scoring on all three of their attempts.
Cedric Paquette scored twice for the Armada while
Jean-Christophe Laflamme added a solo marker. Storm Phaneuf and his awesome
name allowed five goals on 38 shots. Saint John’s sixth goal was an empty
netter.
The Armada led twice in this game and were within one
entering the third period but were not able to make a comeback.
Nothing happened in the first half of the first period.
Things started to heat up around the 11:30 mark as a dump
in hit the glass behind Mathieu Corbeil and landed in the crease area. Corbeil
made some quick work and got it away from danger.
Ian Saab headed to the box at the 13-minute mark. On the
power play, the Armada took the lead. Cedric Paquette was able to jam the puck past the pad of Corbeil to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.
The game started to open a bit after the goal. After
Corbeil denied the Armada on a two-on-one scoring opportunity, Tomas Jurco cut
through the crease at the other end but couldn’t get a great shot off.
Saint John tied things up at 17:22. Charlie Coyle skated
behind the Armada goal and then sent a perfect pass to Ian Saab who was
creeping in from the line. Saab fired a low shot past Blainville-Boisbriand
goaltender Storm Phaneuf to make it a 1-1 game.
The Dogs headed to the man advantage at 19:02 after Danick
Gauthier was tripped up. On the ensuing power play, Jonathan Huberdeau fed Zack
Phillips with a great pass at 19:36. Phillips had an open net to give Saint John a
2-1 lead.
Shots after one period were 13-12 in favour of the
Armada.
SECOND PERIOD
Early in the first, Stephen MacAulay was in front of the
goal but couldn’t get a shot off.
The Armada went to the power play at 2:32 as Saab
headed off again. A pass from the point found Paquette at the side of the goal
at 3:15. He fired a shot off the glove of Corbeil and in to tie it at 2-2.
Saint John had quite a few chances following the tying
goal but couldn’t beat Phaneuf. Phillips was in the slot with an open cage but
couldn’t score. Then, Coyle was robbed at the side of the net. A few moments
later, Ryan Tesink nailed the post which was followed by Phaneuf making a huge
glove save on Beaulieu.
The Armada pulled ahead 3-2 at 14:18. Jean-Christophe Laflamme went in on a breakaway and slipped the puck five-hole on Corbeil.
Saint John went to the power play again at 14:59. On the
man advantage, a cross crease pass found Tomas Jurco at the other side of the
net. He slipped it in at 16:52 to tie it at 3-3.
The Sea Dogs regained the lead at 18:47. Roussel fed
Huberdeau at the side of the cage who put the puck through the legs of Phaneuf
to make it 4-3 Saint John.
Ryan Tesink picked up a slashing penalty at the end of
the period. Shots were 14-12 Armada in the middle frame.
THIRD PERIOD
The Sea Dogs were able to kill off the Tesink penalty to
start the third period. Back at even strength, Coyle had a great chance in
front but was stopped. Then at the other end, Olivier Hinse had a breakaway but
was denied by Corbeil.
The Armada had another power play at 9:06 as Oliver
Cooper headed off. They had some good pressure on but could not score.
A little later on, Jurco blasted the puck off the
crossbar. It looked like it may have snuck in under the bar but was reviewed later
on and it remained a no goal. Jurco’s shot came during a long stretch without a
whistle.
The Dogs headed back to the power play at 16:38. During
that time span, Phillips had a great chance as he walked in front but was stopped.
Then at 17:48, Jurco was behind the goal line and sent it in front to Gauthier.
He fired five-hole to give the Dogs a 5-3 lead.
Gauthier iced the game at 18:09 as he scored into the
empty Armada goal to make it a 6-3 final.
Shots in the third period were 15-9 in favour of Saint
John.
The Sea Dogs went a perfect 3-for-3 on the power play
while the Armada went 2-for-4.
NOTES: See Sea Dogs Postscript tomorrow on SN.
Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation
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