Post by dogcatcher on Jan 31, 2008 22:39:36 GMT -4
SEA DOGS TAME TIGRES
Saint John Earns 4-3 Victory at Harbour Station; Ryan Sparling Scores Game-Winner in Third Period
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, January 31, 2008
SAINT JOHN, NB --- The Saint John Sea Dogs earned their first-ever win over the Victoriaville Tigres on Thursday night vanquishing the Telus Division inhabitants by a score of 4-3 at Harbour Station.
The victory inflates Saint John’s lead in the QMJHL East Division Standings to three points over second-place Halifax and six points over third-place Cape Breton.
Ryan Sparling, Michael Kirkpatrick, Payton Liske, and Alexandre Picard-Hooper all scored for the Sea Dogs on Thursday night, while Alexandre Monahan, Jason Demers, and Alexandre Labonte tallied markers for the Tigres.
Veteran Sea Dogs forward Keven Charland was named the game’s First Star after dishing out two assists versus his former team, both of which came during an action-packed opening two minutes of play.
Overage goalie Travis Fullerton (now 19-10) earned the win in net for Saint John, stopping 25 of the 28 shots fired upon him. Meanwhile, Kevin Poulin (26 saves) suffered the loss between the pipes for Victoriaville to fall to 13-17 on the season.
The Sea Dogs drew first blood on Thursday when an aggressive fore-check by Keven Charland resulted in a forced turnover deep in Victoriaville’s zone. Charland then set Michael Kirkpatrick up for a quick one-timer from point-blank range and the rookie forward converted on the prime opportunity, netting his 12th goal of the season to make the score 1-0 just 1:05 into the game.
Saint John’s lead was then doubled by Payton Liske, who knocked in a rebound from just outside the Tigres’ goal crease on a power play to register his 14th tally of 2007-08 just fifty-five seconds after Kirkpatrick’s marker. Another power play goal by the Sea Dogs, this time off the stick of Alexandre Picard-Hooper, then made the score 3-0 at the 7:09 mark of the opening frame and the home team appeared to be in command of the match.
Victoriaville responded with a power play goal of their own however, with former Sea Dog Alexandre Monahan shovelling in a loose puck past Fullerton to put the visitors on the scoreboard and reduce Saint John’s lead to two as the first period came to an end.
The Tigres then pulled to within one of the Sea Dogs 0:34 into the second period when defenseman Jason Demers ripped a slap shot from the point that beat Fullerton blocker side to give the 19-year old seven goals on the year.
The visiting squad from central Quebec continued to apply pressure in Saint John’s zone, with a huge pad save by Fullerton in the 27th minute of play preventing the Tigres from pulling even on the scoreboard.
Things took a turn for the physical from there and continued throughout the remainder of the middle frame, as countless bone-rattling body checks were administered by both teams and a steady procession of players was seen entering and exiting both penalty boxes. Neither squad was able to add to their respective goal totals during the latter half of the second period however, and Thursday’s contest reached the forty-minute mark with the Sea Dogs leading by a score of 3-2.
Saint John registered several high-quality scoring chances in the opening minutes of the third period, but some awkward bounces and bad luck combined to keep the puck out of Victoriaville’s net despite the Sea Dogs’ best efforts.
A short-handed goal by Ryan Sparling then gave the home team an insurance marker, as the 19-year old winger tipped in a point shot by Pascal Amyot to earn his 21st goal of the season and provide some breathing room for the Sea Dogs midway through regulation’s final frame.
The Tigres pulled back to within immediate striking distance of Saint John at the 12:50 mark of the third period, with Alexandre Labonte scoring during a 5-on-3 power play to earn his 16th goal of the year at a highly-opportune time for Victoriaville.
That would be as close as the visitors would get however, as Fullerton and the Sea Dogs’ stellar defensive unit were able to survive a late-match full-sheet-press by the Tigres and hold on for the one-goal victory.
Up next for Saint John is a Friday night road match versus the Lewiston MAINEiacs. The action gets underway at 8:00pm AST as the Sea Dogs look to extend their winning streak to three games.
Saint John Earns 4-3 Victory at Harbour Station; Ryan Sparling Scores Game-Winner in Third Period
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, January 31, 2008
SAINT JOHN, NB --- The Saint John Sea Dogs earned their first-ever win over the Victoriaville Tigres on Thursday night vanquishing the Telus Division inhabitants by a score of 4-3 at Harbour Station.
The victory inflates Saint John’s lead in the QMJHL East Division Standings to three points over second-place Halifax and six points over third-place Cape Breton.
Ryan Sparling, Michael Kirkpatrick, Payton Liske, and Alexandre Picard-Hooper all scored for the Sea Dogs on Thursday night, while Alexandre Monahan, Jason Demers, and Alexandre Labonte tallied markers for the Tigres.
Veteran Sea Dogs forward Keven Charland was named the game’s First Star after dishing out two assists versus his former team, both of which came during an action-packed opening two minutes of play.
Overage goalie Travis Fullerton (now 19-10) earned the win in net for Saint John, stopping 25 of the 28 shots fired upon him. Meanwhile, Kevin Poulin (26 saves) suffered the loss between the pipes for Victoriaville to fall to 13-17 on the season.
The Sea Dogs drew first blood on Thursday when an aggressive fore-check by Keven Charland resulted in a forced turnover deep in Victoriaville’s zone. Charland then set Michael Kirkpatrick up for a quick one-timer from point-blank range and the rookie forward converted on the prime opportunity, netting his 12th goal of the season to make the score 1-0 just 1:05 into the game.
Saint John’s lead was then doubled by Payton Liske, who knocked in a rebound from just outside the Tigres’ goal crease on a power play to register his 14th tally of 2007-08 just fifty-five seconds after Kirkpatrick’s marker. Another power play goal by the Sea Dogs, this time off the stick of Alexandre Picard-Hooper, then made the score 3-0 at the 7:09 mark of the opening frame and the home team appeared to be in command of the match.
Victoriaville responded with a power play goal of their own however, with former Sea Dog Alexandre Monahan shovelling in a loose puck past Fullerton to put the visitors on the scoreboard and reduce Saint John’s lead to two as the first period came to an end.
The Tigres then pulled to within one of the Sea Dogs 0:34 into the second period when defenseman Jason Demers ripped a slap shot from the point that beat Fullerton blocker side to give the 19-year old seven goals on the year.
The visiting squad from central Quebec continued to apply pressure in Saint John’s zone, with a huge pad save by Fullerton in the 27th minute of play preventing the Tigres from pulling even on the scoreboard.
Things took a turn for the physical from there and continued throughout the remainder of the middle frame, as countless bone-rattling body checks were administered by both teams and a steady procession of players was seen entering and exiting both penalty boxes. Neither squad was able to add to their respective goal totals during the latter half of the second period however, and Thursday’s contest reached the forty-minute mark with the Sea Dogs leading by a score of 3-2.
Saint John registered several high-quality scoring chances in the opening minutes of the third period, but some awkward bounces and bad luck combined to keep the puck out of Victoriaville’s net despite the Sea Dogs’ best efforts.
A short-handed goal by Ryan Sparling then gave the home team an insurance marker, as the 19-year old winger tipped in a point shot by Pascal Amyot to earn his 21st goal of the season and provide some breathing room for the Sea Dogs midway through regulation’s final frame.
The Tigres pulled back to within immediate striking distance of Saint John at the 12:50 mark of the third period, with Alexandre Labonte scoring during a 5-on-3 power play to earn his 16th goal of the year at a highly-opportune time for Victoriaville.
That would be as close as the visitors would get however, as Fullerton and the Sea Dogs’ stellar defensive unit were able to survive a late-match full-sheet-press by the Tigres and hold on for the one-goal victory.
Up next for Saint John is a Friday night road match versus the Lewiston MAINEiacs. The action gets underway at 8:00pm AST as the Sea Dogs look to extend their winning streak to three games.
