DOGS WRAP UP ROAD TRIP WITH WIN OVER SCREAMING EAGLES
Sunday, March 13, 2011
SYDNEY, N.S. – The Saint John Sea Dogs wrapped up a three-game road swing with a 4-1 win over the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles Sunday.
Aidan Kelly, Stanislav Galiev, Alexandre Beauregard and Jonathan Huberdeau scored as the Sea Dogs kept alive their hopes of setting a new Quebec Major Junior Hockey League wins record. Mathieu Corbeil made 19 saves to earn the win for Saint John, which is just two short of the record of 58 victories established by the Sorel Eperviers in 1973-74 and matched by the Trois-Rivieres Draveurs in 1978-79. The Sea Dogs sit at 56-6-1-2 with three games remaining.
Huberdeau’s empty-net goal, meanwhile, made him the first player in Sea Dogs history to reach the 100-point mark.
Denis Kindl scored for Cape Breton and Andrew Hayes made 28 saves. The Eagles fell to 17-44-1-4 and can no longer catch the Halifax Mooseheads for the No. 15 seed, meaning they will face the regular-season champion Sea Dogs in the opening round of the QMJHL playoffs.
Click HERE for a complete scoresheet from Sunday’s game.
Saint John native Aidan Kelly put the Sea Dogs ahead for good, opening the scoring at 7:38 of the first period. The goal, Kelly’s fifth of the year, was the result of a hard-working shift by Kelly and linemates Ryan Tesink and Scott Oke, both of whom picked up assists.
Galiev doubled the lead to 2-0 at 13:44 of the second period, continuing his hot scoring pace with his 10thgoal in 12 games and 34th of the season. The Russian forward took a feed from Steven Anthony at centre ice, broke down the right wing with Tomas Jurco on his left, fired a shot that was stopped, then banged in his own rebound. Kevin Gagne picked up the other assist on the play.
Beauregard then made it 3-0 with a short-handed marker at 16:28 of the second. Beauregard used a defenseman as a screen to beat Hayes with a shot from the left wing for his 10th of the year and fourth in the last two matchups with the Eagles. Mike Thomas had the lone assist.
Kindl spoiled the shutout on great individual effort, rushing from his own end down the left wing and beating Corbeil at 14:35 of the third.
The Dogs were able to limit the damage to one goal, however, and Huberdeau took his shot at history into the open net from the blueline. The goal, Huberdeau’s 41st of the season, brought the 17-year-old forward to the century mark at 19:53. Simon Despres was credited with the lone assist.
Saint John’s next game is on the road against the Prince Edward Island Rocket at 7 p.m. Wednesday. 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).
The Sea Dogs return home at 7:30 p.m. March 18 as the Eagles make the return visit on this St. Patrick’s Day themed night. The final regular-season game is set for 4 p.m. March 20 against the Prince Edward Island Rocket and will be Fan Appreciation Day.
Tickets can be obtained by calling the Harbour Station box office at (506) 657-1234, or by visitingwww.tickets.harbourstation.ca. The Sea Dogs would like to remind fans holding flex tickets to cash them in soon to avoid being disappointed by waiting until the last minute. These tickets do not carry over to playoffs and are redeemed on a first come, first served basis.
