SEA DOGS BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN - Audio - Tim Roszell News 88.9 Video - Merrill's Vision
The Saint John Sea Dogs evened up the annual Rivalry Cup New Year's series, pulling out a 2-1 shootout win over the Moncton Wildcats Monday.
Pierre Durepos notched the shootout winner for the Sea Dogs, who avenged Saturday's loss in Moncton. Danny Chiasson had the game-tying goal in the third period, his first goal as a Sea Dog. Mathieu Corbeil stopped 21 shots in regulation -- and four of five in the shootout.
Marek Hrivik scored for the Wildcats and Roman Will made 29 saves in the loss as the Wildcats fell to 18-19-3-1.
The Sea Dogs remain second overall in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with a 29-12-0-2 record, and also moved within one point of the Wildcats in the Brunswick News Rivalry Cup. Saint John picked up two points for the shootout win and one for breaking the 4,000-fan mark with an attendance of 4,323. Moncton, meanwhile, salvaged a point with the shootout loss to maintain a slim 10-9 edge in the overall Rivalry Cup standings pending the results of the New Year's food drive.
Sea Dogs fans piled several tables high with food collected by volunteers from Outflow and the Community Food Basket. Moncton held a similar drive Saturday and the city gathering the most food by weight will earn three additional Rivalry Cup points.
The highlights of the first period were narrow misses. Alex Saulnier had an open net for the Wildcats early in the frame, but Danick Gauthier made a diving effort to rob him from behind. Gauthier had a solid, physical two-way effort all night and was named the game's first star.
Zack Phillips set up Brett Morrison for a sure goal at the other end a few minutes later, but the affiliate player couldn't find the handle. In the final minute Morrison had another chance when Jason Seed sent him a centering pass from the right wing, but Will denied him. The Sea Dogs outshot the Wildcats 10-4 in the opening frame, which also featured a fight between Saint John's Ian Saab and Moncton's Scott Trask.
In the second period it was more physical hockey, with neither team getting a puck past the opposing goaltender. Trask dropped the gloves just 15 seconds into the middle frame, this time with Spencer MacDonald, and received a game misconduct for his second fight of the night.
Aidan Kelly had the best chance of the period. Gauthier drove hard to the net from the right wing, and Kelly's backhand attempt at his rebound was denied with about eight minutes to go.
Hrivik finally broke the goose-egg on a power play wrap-around 1:56 into the third period.
But Chiasson equalized when Jason Seed threw the puck on net from the left point and Kelly deflected it to the newly-acquired forward. The 19-year-old from Edmundston made not mistake putting it upstairs in a hurry, earning him cheers from the Harbour Station fans and a nod as the game's third star.
Gauthier had several chances to give the Dogs the lead as the third period wore on.
On the power play with about seven minutes to go, the overage forward dangled off the right-wing boards and cut in front for a quick shot, but Will was just as quick with the blocker. The Czech netminder was nearly unbeatable and earned second star honours for his efforts.
Saulnier had an outstanding chance for the Wildcats with less than four minutes left when he put a rebound off the side of the net. Later that shift a tired Gauthier was denied on a rebound chance at the other end, one of three quality scoring chances the Sea Dogs generated in quick succession.
It took a breakaway contest to decide this one, however, and the goalies stole the show early, stopping the first six shots before Hrivik put a backhander upstairs to put the pressure on Saint John. Overage defenceman Charles Roussel stepped up with the game on the line and coolly deposited a shot high to Will's glove side to keep Saint John's hopes alive. After Patrick Delisle-Houde missed the next attempt, Pierre Durepos got a shot through Will to give the Sea Dogs the extra point.
Saint John is back in action at home Wednesday against the Gatineau Olympiques in a rematch of last year's President's Cup championship series. Game time is 7 p.m. at Harbour Station. Tickets are available at the Harbour Station box office, by calling 506-657-1234 or online at www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.
