GDT: SJ Sea Dogs @ Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

[major]

Great comeback win boys keep it rolling Tuesday against the Foggies!!!!

[berner]

Yeah, and nice to see they have 2 points to show for the long trip to Sydney. Way to go guys!

[Maddog]

Hope Hooper's injury isn't to bad. Dogs have been pretty lucky so far as injuries go.

[dogcatcher]

SEA DOGS WIN WILD GAME IN CAPE BRETON

Saint John Earns a 6-4 Comeback Win Over The Screaming Eagles; Chris DiDomenico Registers Hat Trick in Road Victory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sunday, November 25, 2007

SYDNEY, NS --- The Saint John Sea Dogs earned their sixteenth victory of the season on Sunday afternoon, besting Cape Breton by a score of 6-4 at the Screaming Eagles’ home arena in northern Nova Scotia.

After the first period had produced a 0-0 tie, the Dogs and Eagles combined for seven goals in the middle frame (4-3 Cape Breton) prior to Saint John scoring twice in the opening 3:44 of the third to take their first lead of the game. The visitors were able to hold on for victory from there, with Chris DiDomenico adding an insurance marker late in regulation on an amazing individual effort.

DiDomenico scored three goals for Saint John on Sunday while Ryan Sparling, Michael Kirkpatrick and Mike Thomas tallied single markers for the Sea Dogs. Meanwhile, Cape Breton’s offensive production came courtesy of Robert Slaney, Dean Oullet, Jeremy Gouchie, and Nicolas Chouinard.

Veteran goaltender Travis Fullerton earned the win in net for Saint John in a relief appearance, improving his 2007-08 record to 9-7 in the process.

The Sea Dogs came out with a substantial amount of energy on Sunday, very nearly scoring on the first shift of the game as DiDomenico beat starting Screaming Eagles goalie Marek Benda with a backhand shot from close range in the opening thirty seconds of play; DiDomenico’s shot, fired after he managed to out-manoeuvre a pair of Cape Breton defenders in the home team’s zone, clanged off of the post however, giving the QMJHL East Division’s second-place team an early piece of good luck.

Significant back-and-forth action was subsequently staged upon the Centre 200 ice surface, with Cape Breton and Saint John volleying scoring chances in a multi-minute rally featuring several impressive saves by each team’s respective goaltender.

Rookie Sea Dogs net minder Robert Mayer, fresh off of an impressive 29-save performance versus Baie-Comeau on Friday, continued his strong play into the first period against the Screaming Eagles, making nine stops throughout the opening twenty to send the important divisional showdown into the first intermission with the score tied 0-0.

The Screaming Eagles opened the second period with a two-man power play advantage, capitalizing on the opportunity when Dean Oullet beat Mayer glove-side to both earn his 18th goal of the season and give the home team a 1-0 lead. Cape Breton then went up by two 58 seconds later when Jeremy Gouchie scored on a backhand shot from just outside the Saint John goal crease to improve his 07-08 goal total to three.

Brett Gallant then re-claimed some much-needed momentum for the visiting squad from Port City, demolishing Screaming Eagles defenseman Domenic Fontaine in a dramatically one-sided fight in Cape Breton’s zone at the 23:35 mark of the match.

Despite Gallant’s efforts, the Screaming Eagles scored the game’s next goal, with Robert Slaney registering an even-strength marker to put Cape Breton up by three 8:22 into the second period.

Saint John went on the power play immediately after Slaney’s tally, with Chris DiDomenico putting the Sea Dogs on the scoreboard with a rocket of a shot from ten feet out that beat Benda, giving the Upper Canadian sniper 21 goals on the season. Mayer picked up an assist on the scoring play, giving the 18-year old his first career QMJHL point.

The Screaming Eagles then re-established a three-goal advantage a few minutes later courtesy of Nicolas Chouinard, with Travis Fullerton resultantly taking over goaltending duties for Mayer, who surrenders four goals on six second period shots after having performed well in the first.

Sydney native Michael Kirkpatrick then pulled Saint John to within two of the Cape Breton lead with 24:13 remaining in regulation, firing a shot from a tough angle next to the Screaming Eagles net that managed to find its way past Benda to give the rookie forward four goals on the year.

Ninety seconds after Kirkpatrick’s goal, Cape Breton’s lead was reduced to one by Ryan Sparling, who shovelled a rebound into an open Screaming Eagles net following a scramble to earn his 11th goal of the season as the Sea Dogs again had full control of the momentum train as the second intermission got underway.

Just 33 seconds into the third period, Saint John tied things up when a cross-ice pass by Chris DiDomenico bounced off of Dean Oullet’s stick and ended up behind the Cape Breton goal line, making the score 4-4. The Sea Dogs then took their first lead of the night 3:11 later when Mike Thomas banged home a loose puck to bring an end to Belak’s afternoon, as Paul Dorsey took over goaltending duties for the Screaming Eagles.

A physics-defying goal by Chris DiDomenico then gave Saint John a 6-4 lead with 5:44 remaining in regulation; the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect single-handedly took the puck from one end of the ice to the other, skating around several Screaming Eagles prior to being tripped up in the slot. DiDomenico managed to get a shot off whilst gliding towards the Cape Breton net on his stomach, the puck squeaking past Dorsey as number 25 blue put the finishing touches on his third career hat trick in dynamic fashion.

The Sea Dogs were able to hang on to the victory from there, with Travis Fullerton registering four third period saves to earn his ninth win of the season and improve his team’s record to 16-7-1-2.

Up next for Saint John is a Tuesday night match versus the St. John’s Fog Devils at Harbour Station. The action gets underway at 7:00pm.

[Gman]

Dido the dominator... nice game from him. With Perreault's goose egg today, he moves into a 3rd place tie in league scoring. Not bad at all for a relative unknown last year. Kind of like a Claude Giroux type pickup you got there.... definite 100 point potential. I wouldn't have believed it before the year started.

[Deer]

Before the season, I remember people were listing potential top five scorers in the league or something like that. A Sea Dog fan suggested Didomenico, and was met with many laughs - including some from yours truly. Most were willing to admit that he was a top 20 or so guy but couldn't imagine him being top 5 and figured Sea Dog fans were overrating one of their own.

Well it looks like you guys were right- this guy really is an elite player in this league. I didn't see today's game but am interested to check the archives tomorrow to see his third goal that everyone's talking about.

[Gman]

deer said:

Before the season, I remember people were listing potential top five scorers in the league or something like that. A Sea Dog fan suggested Didomenico, and was met with many laughs - including some from yours truly. Most were willing to admit that he was a top 20 or so guy but couldn't imagine him being top 5 and figured Sea Dog fans were overrating one of their own.

Well it looks like you guys were right- this guy really is an elite player in this league. I didn't see today's game but am interested to check the archives tomorrow to see his third goal that everyone's talking about.

The season isn't even half over so no one was right about anything yet. However, it certainly appears that he has the potential for 100+ points, and that should land him near the top 5, if not in it.

[Judas In My Mind]

deer said:

Before the season, I remember people were listing potential top five scorers in the league or something like that. A Sea Dog fan suggested Didomenico, and was met with many laughs - including some from yours truly. Most were willing to admit that he was a top 20 or so guy but couldn't imagine him being top 5 and figured Sea Dog fans were overrating one of their own.

Well it looks like you guys were right- this guy really is an elite player in this league. I didn't see today's game but am interested to check the archives tomorrow to see his third goal that everyone's talking about.

That's not limited to just non-Sea Dog fans Deer...I admit to not agreeing with that assessment as well. (Not that I laughed at it though.) I saw Dido as a top 15 type guy...top 10 in scoring at best. He's really stepped it up this year.

Hell I'll go one further. I remember when he made the team last year from out of nowhere. I didn't think he'd stick actually and might get cut. Thought he was a third liner or so, at best, if he did managed to sneak in there. Boy was I wrong. His work ethic and hockey sense are things that were hard to notice in training camp and exhibition.

Glad JB makes those calls and not me. Otherwise we might have been playing last year with that Mikael Bedard guy instead.

[bjindaho]

It was something like top 10 players to watch. And I only suggested him as an honorable mention

[bjindaho]

forwards, not players.
and it was a response to a palov article

[bjindaho]

dido looked like a lock after the black and blue game. it wasn't that he was dominating, but rather that he was actually making bouchard and bergeron like like they were offensive superstars all game long. at that point, he was uncuttable.

[dogcatcher]

Comeback kids
Hockey Sea Dogs battle back from three down to beat Cape Breton

Andrew McGilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Monday November 26th, 2007
Appeared on page B5

SYDNEY, N.S. - Down but not out of it.

That was the motto of the Saint John Sea Dogs on Sunday as the team came back from three-goals down twice to defeat the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 6-4 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action.

Chris Di Domenico led the way notching a hat trick while Michael Kirkpatrick, Ryan Sparling and Mike Thomas had one goal each for the Sea Dogs.

Dean Ouellet, Jeremy Gouchie, Nicolas Chouinard and Robert Slaney countered for Cape Breton.

Di DOmenico said the comeback was big one for the Sea Dogs.

"We've got lots of character in this room," he said. "Every guy fights to the end. "¦ We're all happy with a big win. Every game will be tough from here on in."

The Sea Dogs had some early jump in the first period testing Cape Breton starter Marek Benda with several scoring chances. The Czech Republic born netminder was up to the challenge making six saves in the first five minutes.

Saint John starter Robert Mayer kept the game scoreless after a great scoring chance for the Screaming Eagles. Jeremy Gouchie had a rebound come to his stick with Mayer down after making the initial save. Gouchie fired the puck, but the glove of Mayer was too quick reaching across making the highlight-reel save.

The goalies were the story in the first with Mayer stopping nine shots while Benda countered with 11.

Cape Breton started the second period with a two-man advantage and opened the scoring.

Just as the first penalty expired, Chris Culligan fed a pass into the slot where Edmundston native Ouellet redirected the puck over the shoulder of Mayer for a 1-0 Cape Breton lead.

The marker would be the first of seven second period goals.

The Screaming Eagles kept coming and increased the lead to 2-0 when Gouchie lifted a backhand past Mayer at 2:35 after a scramble in front of the Saint John goal.

Cape Breton scored their third goal of the period at the 8:29 of the second when Slaney jammed a wraparound past Mayer for a 3-0 Screaming Eagles edge. Woodstock's Jordan Clendenning picked up an assist.

Di Domenico cut the lead to 3-1 with his 21st goal of the season on the power play. A rolling puck in the slot was ripped past Benda at the midway mark of the frame. The play continued after the shot, but eventually the play was reviewed and counted. Mayer was given an assist on the goal, his first QMJHL point.

Cape Breton restored the three-goal lead with just over five minutes to go. A harmless looking dump in by Chouinard bounced between the legs of Mayer for a soft goal. The marker chased Mayer from the game with Travis Fullerton taking over in goal.

The switch sparked the Sea Dogs as two native sons of Cape Breton scored just a couple of minutes apart to cut the lead to 4-3.

Kirkpatrick ripped a bad angle shot past Benda and Sparling jammed a rebound past the Screaming Eagles netminder to give the Sea Dogs new life. Both Saint John forwards are Cape Breton products.

The teams remained separated by one goal heading into the third.

The Sea Dogs appeared to tie the game 33 seconds into the third on a two-man advantage. A centering pass in front looked to deflect off a Screaming Eagle defender and past Benda. The referee went upstairs for a video review and the goal was counted for a 4-4 tie. Di Domenico was credited with his second goal of the game.

Saint John took their first lead of the game at 3:44 of the final frame. Mike Thomas corralled the puck, cut to the front of the net and ripped a wrist shot past Benda for a 5-4 Sea Dogs lead.

The goal chased the Czech goalie from the game as Paul Dorsey took over in net for the Screaming Eagles.

Di Domenico completed the hat trick with an unbelievable goal. Going end-to-end, the Woodbridge, Ont. native got a shot off while being hauled down but somehow chipped in the rebound from his stomach. The goal was his fourth point of the night.

The marker made it 6-4 for the Sea Dogs at 14:06 of the third.

Saint John's defence took care of the rest, shutting down the Screaming Eagles to preserve the win.

Saint John head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu said the team played better than the early score indicated.

"We thought we had them on the run, we just had to keep pushing, get pucks behind their (defence) and keep getting pucks on the net," Beaulieu said. The win improves the Sea Dogs record to 16-7-1-2 while Cape Breton drops to 18-9-2-2.

[canucklehead]

I liked Dido almost from the get go first time I saw him was in an exhibition game but he looked like a very solid 3rd line center and a good PK guy.

Shit Dido himself admitted to only expecting to be a 3rd line guy so I'd say he's exceeding his own expectations now. ;D

[habh8er]

Missed a beauty here.....seems that nobody is as quick to give up on the team when they go down early now that they've got a few comebacks under their belts, these guys cease to amaze....Dido keeps on tearing it up, but Mayer is driving us nuts....hate to get on the guys case but this has to be the most inconsistent goaltending I can remember seeing .... and its not only game to game...sometimes it's period to period, he makes the amazing saves and gets beat on the softies yet again, bring on the foggies, really cant see Fullerton sitting to start this one, but it wouldn't surprise me to see JB give Mayer the start at home either after the game he played on Saturday, and after being named #1 star**scratches head**....wow!

[canucklehead]

I doubt Mayer gets the next against the Foggies he's had very little success against them this year while Fullerton has a 2-0 record with a 1.99 GAA and 0.912 save %

I'd even say Fullerton should also start against Halifax and give Mayer the PEI game but that's just me.