 |
| Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs |
The Sea Dogs secured the QMJHL's 16th and final playoff spot thanks to the Quebec Remparts falling 7-3 to the Rimouski Oceanic on Saturday. Saint John could have clinched the spot about an hour earlier but were unable to get a point in a 6-3 loss to the Halifax Mooseheads at TD Station.
Saint John will face the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the opening round of the playoffs. That series will likely start on Friday in Drummondville.
Markus Vidicek scored twice for Halifax while singles came from Mathieu Cataford, Dylan MacKinnon, Jan Sprynar, Jack Martin and Logan Crosby. Mathis Rousseau made 32 saves in the win. The Mooseheads once again sat out several regulars.
Things were looking promising for Saint John in this one but the wheels fell off in a third period that saw the Mooseheads score five times. Brody Fournier scored twice for the Sea Dogs while Tyler Peddle and Drew Elliott also converted. Patrick Leaver made 34 saves in the loss.
The Mooseheads led 2-1 after the opening period thanks to a late goal from MacKinnon. Just 21 seconds into the second, Elliott got Saint John within one and then, at 1:24, Fournier scored to quickly put the Sea Dogs up 3-2.
It looked like the Mooseheads had tied the game on a point shot from MacKinnon that beat Leaver with 5:57 remaining. But after review, the goal was called off due to goaltender interference. Not long after that, it looked like Pavel Simek had scored on a power play to make it 4-2 Saint John. But after a lengthy offside review, that goal was called back as well.
Just 25 seconds into the third period and the Moose on a power play, Sprynar wired a shot from the circle past Leaver to tie things up at 3-3. Then at 5:35, Martin scored on a point shot to put Halifax back in front, 4-3.
Just 25 seconds into the third period and the Moose on a power play, Sprynar wired a shot from the circle past Leaver to tie things up at 3-3. Then at 5:35, Martin scored on a point shot to put Halifax back in front, 4-3.
With 5:27 remaining, Vidicek scored following a faceoff win. Just 16 seconds later, Crosby redirected a Martin point shot to quickly put Halifax up 6-3.
With Leaver pulled, Fournier scored his second of the game to make it 6-4 at 17:20. Vidicek secured the win with an empty netter at 18:38.
LINEUP
LINEUP
Mateiko - Elliott - Simek
Peddle - Miller - Fournier
Groulx - Beveridge - Beaulieu
Reynolds - Laforge - Benoit
Tivey - Ianniello
Bilodeau - Mann
MacLean - Amyot
Leaver
Robinson
SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Benjamin Beaudry (healthy) and Reid Calder (healthy) along with defensemen Olivier Duhamel (injury) and Jeremie Richard (healthy).
NOTES: Forward Darien Reynolds returned to the Saint John lineup after being a healthy scratch on Friday. Reid Calder sat out... the Sea Dogs wore their black third jerseys... Saint John honoured 20-year-olds Patrick Leaver, Drew Elliott and Brody Fournier before the game... Fournier scored for a fifth straight game... Tyler Peddle has points in five straight games (six goals and three assists)... Reynolds had two assists... Peddle had seven shots... Halifax went 2/4 on the power play... faceoffs were 47-26 in favour of the Moose... Fournier and several Mooseheads shook hands on the ice after the game... attendance was 4,004, the fifth largest home crowd of the season... the Mooseheads once again sat out several regulars — including Peter Reynolds.
Peter Reynolds amongst the Mooseheads scratches today. pic.twitter.com/pqNRKpNucS
— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) March 23, 2024
HIGHLIGHTS
NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs will face the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the first round of the playoffs, a series that will likely begin Friday in Drummondville.
No comments:
Post a Comment