RECAP: Turn Out The Lights. Dogs Lose 6-1.

FINAL: Halifax 6, Saint John 1

By Tim Lumsden

SN Staff

Saint John and Halifax returned to Harbour Station for Game 4 of their playoff round. 2,294 (Ed. Note: seriously… welp) fans showed up to cheer on their teams as they battled it out; Halifax ready to take the final game and Saint John struggling to stay alive.

Sebastien Auger returned to net for Saint John while Zachary Fucale reprised his role in goal for the Mooseheads.

FIRST PERIOD

This game was a perhaps the most disciplined game played by the two teams this round. With only five infractions issued, fans got to see some actual hockey being played.

The first penalty was by Matthew Highmore at 10:12 for hooking. This sent the Mooseheads to the power play which in turn allowed Stefan Fournier to score the first Halifax goal just seconds later at 10:33.

Steven Duda was next to the box at 11:27 with a hooking call. Once again, the Moose turned their advantage into a goal at 12:33 as Nathan MacKinnon fired one home. This increased the score 2-0 for Halifax.

Saint John was able to remain defensive the rest of the period and cooler heads prevailed as they also remained out of the penalty box.

Shots were 19-1 (!) in favour of Halifax in the first.

SECOND PERIOD

Luca Ciampini, after being robbed by Auger the night before was able to score at 2:55. 3-0 Mooseheads.

Ian Saab headed off to the box at 3:19 for cross checking.

Matthew Boudreau found Auger’s weak spot as he slipped one past at 5:51, bringing the score to 4-0 for the Herd.

It was Darcy Ashley who scored number five at 19:20 which may have prompted Ian Saab’s unsportsmanlike conduct misconduct at the same time.

At the end of the second period, it was obvious that Halifax had dominated the first 40 minutes of hockey as Saint John was being outshot 36-8.

THIRD PERIOD

 The Halifax scoring continued early on in the third as Stefan Fournier found a place in the net at 3:57 and added a sixth goal to the now 6-0 score.

Maxime Villemaire refused to go down without a fight however as he score his unassisted goal, the only Sea Dog goal of the night, at 7:33.

Darcy Ashley took the only Halifax penalty of the game at 10:48 with a roughing penalty.

Outplayed and exhausted, the Sea Dogs could not overcome their division rivals as they were outshot 50-15. The game would end 6-1 as Saint John said farewell to the President’s Cup for this season.

NOTES: See Sea Dogs Postscript tomorrow on SN.