News & Notes From Saturday's Game

Some stuff from last night’s game…

• For the first time this season, the Sea Dogs have won three straight games. They have also picked up at least a point in each of their past four games. Quite a turnaround when you look at how this team was playing just a couple of months ago.
• Noah Zilbert continued his hot play on Saturday night, scoring the game’s opening goal at 15:51 on a power play in the first. Zilbert now has five goals and three assists in his past five games.
• Nicolas Hebert left the game and did not return after taking a big open ice hit from Sergei Boikov in the first period. The Volts import was given a five-minute penalty and game misconduct for interference. The Dogs could only get one shot on goal during the man advantage.
• On Wednesday and Friday, it was the third period where Saint John was outshot by a large margin. But it was the first 40 minutes on Saturday that saw the Sea Dogs face a barrage of shots. Drummondville had 23 shots to Saint John’s nine in the first two periods combined. Shots were 12-12 in the third.
• The Sea Dogs continue to be opportunistic with their chances. Despite only getting nine shots on net in two periods, they chased Volts backup Joe Fleschler from the net after allowing three goals. Louis-Philip Guindon took over for the third.
• Saint John had a full two-minute five-on-three power play in the third but nearly blew it. After not creating many scoring chances, the Sea Dogs were awarded a penalty shot as a Volts player, apparently, closed his hand on the puck in the crease. But Nathan Noel was denied on his solo attempt. But with three seconds remaining in the power play, Matthew Highmore scored what proved to be the game-winner.
• With around 6:30 left in the game, it appeared Jerome Verrier (I think?) had taken a penalty in a scrum in front of the Sea Dogs crease. He was put into the box but after some arguing with the official he was taken back to the Drummondville bench. Very bizarre sequence.
• Samuel Dove-McFalls netted two goals last night and has points in three straight games and goals in back-to-back contests.
• How about Saint John’s 16-year olds last night? Dove-McFalls had two goals, Mathieu Joseph two assists, and Thomas Chabot one assist.
• Matthew Highmore won 18 of 22 faceoffs last night, including a bunch during that two-minute five-on-three.
• Sebastien Auger was Sebastien Auger again last night. He also got a roughing penalty for some rough stuff at the end of the game. The goaltender now has the same amount of penalty minutes as Will Thompson this season.
• Drummondville’s power play played as advertised, going 3-for-5. Captain Charles-David Beaudoin had two goals while Matthew Boudens added three assists.
• The Sea Dogs are just two points back of the Sherbrooke Phoenix with two games in hand.
• The Sea Dogs were without forwards Joey Richard (shoulder), Stephen Anderson (upper body), and Lukas Walter (healthy) along with defensemen Michael Abbott (hand) and Will Thompson (healthy). Walter took warmup but was the team’s final scratch. Goaltender Antoine Landry also remains out.

NOTES: This was the second game of a five-game homestand for the Sea Dogs…kids choir performed the anthem… Matthew Highmore left the second period for brief time but did return… at least a couple Voltigeurs jerseys in the building… Spencer Smallman had two assists… Matthew Highmore had four shots… Olivier LeBlanc had three hits… Alexander McQuaid and Jurij Repe each took two minor penalties… seemed like one of the loudest crowds of the year.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs take on the Halifax Mooseheads on Tuesday night at Harbour Station.