Suspensions Looming?

With QMJHL commissioner Gilles Courteau in attendance, it was only fitting that last night’s Sea Dogs-Wildcats game would feature some controversial plays.

At 12:11 of the second period, Moncton’s Will Smith got a little too jiggy with it, running over Saint John goaltender Marc-Antoine Turcotte.

Smith was given a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct for goaltender interference. Saint John would tie the game at 1-1 on the ensuing power play.

Meanwhile, Turcotte had to be looked at by the trainers of both teams. A stretcher came onto the ice but the 20-year-old was able to skate off with some assistance. Alex Bishop took over net duties for the Sea Dogs.

At 3:38 of the third, Daniel Del Paggio picked up an interference penalty for a hit on Conor Garland.

Garland left the game and did not return. Del Paggio went on to score two goals – one being the game winner and the other an empty netter.

Magnifying everything that happened in last night’s 4-1 Sea Dogs win was the fact that Saint John leapfrogged Moncton for first place in the Maritimes Division. The two teams meet two more times before the regular season ends.

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