SEA DOGS DROP TITAN
February 12, 2012
SAINT JOHN – The Saint John Sea Dogs sent 5,427 fans home happy as they extended their win streak to nine games with a 7-2 victory over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan Sunday afternoon.
Stanislav Galiev had two goals, his first since Sept. 24, 2011, and Charlie Coyle notched a goal and two helpers to lead the Sea Dogs. Zack Phillips, Jonathan Huberdeau and Spencer MacDonald registered a goal and an assist each and MacDonald added a fight for a Gordie Howe hat-trick. Maxime Villemaire chipped in a single for the Sea Dogs while Sebastien Auger made 22 saves in the win. Saint John improved its record to 39-14-0-2.
Etienne Salvail had both markers for the Titan, who fell to 27-24-2-3 with Jacob Brennan making 29 saves in the loss.
Click HERE to view a complete scoresheet from Sunday’s game. For interviews and highlights, visit Sea Dogs TV, the team’s official YouTube channel.
Phillips opened the scoring for the Sea Dogs on the power play with a laser from the left wing faceoff dot. Coyle and Beaulieu made a give-and-go play to get open, Coyle found Phillips with a cross-ice pass and he finished for his 27th of the year.
Saint John had three power plays in the first and maintained pressure in the offensive zone for the majority of the frame. With a flurry of chances including a shot just wide by Jonathan Huberdeau shortly after the halfway mark of the period, the Sea Dogs had chances to extend their lead, but Brennan stood tall.
The second period began at high speed, with three goals scored within a span of 2:06. Salvail tied the game 1-1 at 3:40, but the Sea Dogs pulled back in front on Villemaire’s 10th goal of the season. MacDonald sent a breakout pass to Phillips, who deked around two defencemen and got the puck on net. Villemaire gave it an extra shove at 5:01 to get it across the goal line. Only 45 seconds later, Huberdeau cut into the zone on a 2-on-1 with Galiev and made a pass that banked in off the Bathurst defenceman. Aidan Kelly picked up the only assist on the goal, Huberdeau’s 17th.
Galiev made it 4-1 with his first goal in his second game back after a 44-game absence with a wrist injury. The Russian sniper hit the zone with speed and fed Jurco for a give-and-go. Jurco slid the puck across just out of reach of Brennan, right on the tape of Galiev for the tap-in.
MacDonald dropped the mitts for a spirited bout with Brent Turnbull at 13:06, earning the second piece of the Gordie Howe hat trick.
For a near two-minute span, the line of Gauthier, Galiev and Huberdeau terrorized the Bathurst defense with five minutes to go in the period but the Dogs could not extend their lead.
Salvail brought the Titan back within two at 18:57, but that was as close as they would come.
Auger preserved the two-goal lead with an excellent pad save on a good Bathurst chance just under two minutes into the final frame, allowing the play to swing back to the offensive zone. At 1:58, Coyle tipped in his eighth goal of the year on a Beaulieu point shot.
Brennan made his best efforts to keep the game manageable with an excellent save on Huberdeau, who made a spinorama move and backhanded a shot that appeared to be a sure goal, only to have it taken away by Brennan’s glove.
The onslaught continued when Galiev notched his second of the night on a pass from Durepos at 13:34. Grant West picked up the other assist on the goal, Galiev’s fifth in the seventh game of his abbreviated season.
MacDonald completed his night at 18:31, taking a pass from Huberdeau and firing it through a crowd for his third goal of the season.
The Sea Dogs are in Charlottetown to take on the Prince Edward Island Rocket on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Tim Roszell will have the call on News 88.9 FM. Fans can also catch all the action online via the official TELUS QMJHL webcast (click HERE to order; charges apply).
Saint John’s next home game is Friday against the Quebec Remparts, at a special time of 8 p.m. to accommodate Rogers Sportsnet, which will televise the game nationally. The team is reminding fans to redeem outstanding flex tickets early as just six home games remain. Single-game tickets are available at the Harbour Station box office, by calling 506-657-1234 or online at www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.
