RECAP: Turn Out The Lights. Dogs Win 5-1.

FINAL: Saint John 5, Cape Breton 1

SYDNEY, NS – The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles made it interesting but were just not able to contain the Saint John Sea Dogs on Wednesday night at Centre 200.

Five different Sea Dogs scored as Saint John defeated Cape Breton 5-1, sweeping the first round Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff series 4-0. It is the second year in a row that Saint John swept away Cape Breton in round one.

Aidan Kelly, Charlie Coyle, Tomas Jurco, Stanislav Galiev, and Danick Gauthier all scored for the Sea Dogs. Jurco, Galiev, and Zack Phillips each had two assists. Mathieu Corbeil put in a real solid performance in goal, making 33 saves in the win.

Corbeil had to be good as the Screaming Eagles hung around until the third period. Cape Breton opened the scoring and the game was tied 1-1 after one. The Eagles then outshot Saint John 13-12 in the middle frame but trailed 2-1. Despite their best efforts, the home side just couldn’t contain the Dogs in the third period as Jurco and Galiev scored 11 seconds apart to clinch it.

The Eagles, who seemed to improve as the series went on, had their lone goal come from Dany Potvin. Philippe Trudeau allowed five goals on 31 shots in the season ending loss.

Saint John dominated much of this series – but, as seen tonight, not all of it. The Dogs outscored Cape Breton 34-8 in the four games. Charlie Coyle had nine of Saint John’s goals.

Saint John will play the lowest seeded team that moves on to the second round. It’s looking like that team will be Baie-Comeau but we shall see.

Game 1 of the second round in next Friday, April 6 at Harbour Station with Game 2 scheduled for the following evening. Tickets to both games go on sale tomorrow morning at 10am.

The teams combined for three power play opportunities in the first half of the opening frame but neither could score. Charles Roussel hit a goal post and Danick Gauthier was denied on a shorthanded break.

Dany Potvin gave the Eagles a 1-0 advantage at the 11-minute mark as he beat Mathieu Corbeil. The net came off as he was scoring and the play was reviewed. The goal would stand however. William Carrier had a good chance moments later but was stopped by the Sea Dogs ‘tender.

Aidan Kelly tied the game at 15:03, firing a shot from a sharp angle and finding a hole to get past Philippe Trudeau and make it a 1-1 affair.

Shots were 11-9 Saint John in the opening frame.

Ryan Tesink took a slashing penalty in the final minute of the first that would carry over into the second. Before the puck dropped, Saint John was given a delay of game penalty for having too many players on the ice, giving the Eagles a long five-on-three power play. Corbeil made a few nice saves to keep it tied.

At 8:21, Charlie Coyle came hard down the wing and then cut in front to give the Dogs a 2-1 lead. It was a typical power forward type move.

William Carrier headed off for slashing at 10:54. Kyle Farrell had a shorthanded break but was denied by Corbeil.

Shots in the second stanza were 13-12 Cape Breton.

The Sea Dogs gave themselves some insurance in the third period. At 3:06, Stanislav Galiev was stopped but Tomas Jurco was there to pick up the garbage and deposit the puck to give Saint John a 3-1 lead.

11 seconds later, Jurco fed Galiev who beat Trudeau with a wrist shot to give Saint John a three-goal lead.

On a power play at 12:27, Danick Gauthier rounded out the scoring as he took a Galiev pass and scored his fifth of the post-season to make it 5-1.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs’ second round series begins next Friday, April 6 at 7:30pm at Harbour Station against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.