SEA DOGS REACH 100-POINT MARK
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
SAINT JOHN – The Saint John Sea Dogs wrapped up their four-game homestand by making a bit of history with a 4-1 win over the Halifax Mooseheads Tuesday.
Michael Kirkpatrick, Tomas Jurco, Zack Phillips and Stanislav Galiev scored for Saint John, with Kirkpatrick adding an assist and Eric Gelinas chipping in two helpers. Mathieu Corbeil made 22 saves for the win, while Jason Cameron tallied an assist, three hits and was 7-for-8 in the faceoff circle to earn the Dickie’s hardest-working player award.
Matthew Boudreau had the Halifax goal while Anthony Terenzio made 32 saves in the loss.
The Sea Dogs improved to 49-5-1-2, giving them 101 points on the heels of last year’s 109-point team, which won the Jean Rougeau Trophy as regular-season champions. Just six other teams in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League have achieved back-to-back 100-point seasons. Halifax, meanwhile, fell to 18-38-1-2.
Click HERE for a complete scoresheet from Tuesday’s game.
Kirkpatrick, who was named first star, opened the scoring at 14:51 of the first period, potting a Kevin Gagne rebound for his 27th of the season. Cameron, who won the offensive-zone faceoff back to Gagne, had the other assist.
Jurco made it 2-0 with his 28th of the year on a power play at 2:39 of the second. Kirkpatrick walked out from the left-wing corner and lost the handle on the puck, but Jurco, who was named second star, was perched in front to knock it in.
Beaulieu extended the lead with another power-play marker at 13:24 of the middle frame, taking a nice feed from Gelinas and hammering a point shot through traffic. Jonathan Huberdeau, who was causing traffic around the net along with Zack Phillips, picked up the other assist.
Boudreau made things interesting when he banged in a rebound at 2:39, but Galiev restored the three-goal cushion at 11:12. Gelinas and Pierre Durepos assisted on the goal, Galiev’s 28th.
Martin Frk of the Mooseheads made a bid to get Halifax right back in it on a clear breakaway shortly thereafter, but Corbeil stopped his deke to the backhand to extinguish the chance. Corbeil made several solid saves, particularly with things close in the first period, and was named third star.
The Sea Dogs head out on the road for three games in three nights, beginning Friday against the Gatineau Olympiques, an 8:30 p.m. Atlantic Time start. They take on the Victoriaville Tigres at 5 p.m. Saturday and the Shawinigan Cataractes at 5 p.m. Sunday.
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 March 4 against the Moncton Wildcats, where the Brunswick News Rivalry Cup will be presented to the Sea Dogs for the first time. Tickets can be obtained by calling the Harbour Station box office at (506) 657-1234, or by visiting www.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.
