Eagles Run Into Hot Goalie, Fall In Shootout In Saint John
NOTES FROM THE GAME
– Eriks Mateiko & Pavel Simek were the goal scorers in the shootout as the Saint John Sea Dogs topped Cape Breton Eagles 3-2 on Monday afternoon.
– The game saw the Eagles twice build the lead before Saint John rallied. Neither team was able to score in the third period.
– Patrick Leaver stopped 49 of 51 shots for the Saint John Sea Dogs as they topped the Cape Breton Eagles 3-2 in a shootout on a Monday afternoon in Saint John. Nicolas Ruccia stopped 18 of 20 shots in the loss.
The Eagles carried the early part of the play, with the Sea Dogs not registering a shot in the first half of the period. Neither team was able to convert on their first power play, in a sequence that included 48 seconds of four on four play.
The visitors opened the scoring at even strength, as Cole Burbidge found Squires coming up the right wing and Squires finished the feed to put the Eagles ahead 1-0. Saint John neutralized, scoring on their first shot of the game- Matteo Mann converting a pass in the blue paint that came from Egan Beveridge on the side boards. Cape Breton did take the lead into the the intermission though, as in the last two minutes, Romeo zapped it through Leaver from the right faceoff circle.
After outshooting the Sea Dogs 15-5 in the first frame, the Eagles almost replicated in the second period, with shots coming up 14-5 Cape Breton. But Saint John scored the only goal of the second stanza, with Eriks Mateiko scoring from the side of the goal after a pass from the blueline from Nate Tivey.
The Eagles again outshot Saint John in the third, 20-8, although one of the best chances didn’t register as a shot when Callum Aucoin rung the puck off the crossbar. With neither team able to crack the scoresheet in the third period or overtime, the game headed to a shootout.
The home side shot first, with Simek beating Ruccia low to give Saint John the edge. Lucas Romeo shot for the Eagles attempting to even the score, but was denied by a Leaver pokecheck. After Mateiko scored a similar looking goal, Olivier Houde was tasked with prolonging the game, but he was denied by Leaver and Saint John skated to a 3-2 victory.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Patrick Leaver (Saint John) 49 saves on 51 shots
2. Eriks Mateiko (Saint John) 1 goal, shootout goal
3. Pavel Simek (Saint John) shootout goal, 4 shots
Scratches For Cape Breton: Angelo Fullerton (illness), Jude Campbell (injury), Etienne Dejsardins
Scratches For Saint John: Tyler Peddle (suspension), Justin Robinson (injury), Benjamin Amyot (injury), Jeremie Ricard, Benjamin Beaudry
Final Shots On Goal: 51-20 in favour of Cape Breton
Cape Breton Power Play: 0/2
Saint John Power Play: 1/3
The Eagles are next in action on Thursday against the Charlottetown Islanders! This is rescheduled game- tickets for the game originally scheduled on February 3rd are valid and can be used for this game.
For those looking to purchase new tickets- It’s $13 Thursday at the Nest as all tickets available for that price! Tickets can be purchased at https://shorturl.at/pBLY4
Puck drop is at 7 PM. Tickets can be purchased at They are also available for purchase in person at the Centre 200 box office and by the phone during box office hours at 902-564-2200