January 29, 2012

SAINT JOHN – The Saint John Sea Dogs ran their winning streak to five games, doubling the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 6-3 before 4,608 fans at Harbour Station Sunday.

Danick Gauthier finished with two goals and an assist for the Sea Dogs, Tomas Jurco had a goal and two assists, and Jonathan Huberdeau scored a goal and added a helper. Ian Saab and Zack Phillips chipped in singles, with two assists each coming from Charlie Coyle and Charles Roussel. Mathieu Corbeil made 33 saves for the win as the Sea Dogs improved to 36-13-0-2 and moved back into first place overall in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The win was Corbeil’s 28^th of the season, establishing a new team mark.

Cedric Paquette had two goals for the Armada and Alex Micallef added a single. Storm Phaneuf made 33 saves in the loss as Blainville-Boisbriand fell to 27-20-2-1.

Click HERE to view a complete scoresheet from Sunday’s game. For interviews and highlights, visit Sea Dogs TV, the team’s official YouTube channel.

The Armada got on the scoreboard first, when Paquette was allowed to jam away in front of the net and finally knocked it in at 14:01, a power play goal. Paquette and Marc-Olivier Roy had a 2-on-1 on their next shift, but Corbeil slid to his left to stop Roy. Jurco then had a chance at the other end, cutting in from the right wing, but couldn’t corral it for a quality shot.

The Dogs equalized on Saab’s goal at 17:22. Coyle wrapped around behind the net, and found a trailing Saab, who slammed a low shot home for his second of the season. Phillips then made it 2-1 on a power play at 19:36, taking a beautiful cross-ice feed from Huberdeau and burying it from his perch to the right of Phaneuf before the goalie could recover. Roussel had the other assist on the goal, the 26^th of the year for Phillips.

Saint John had a chance to extend the lead midway through the second when Phillips and Ryan Tesink broke in on a 2-on-1. Tesink held the puck on the right wing and ripped a shot off the post, then Nathan Beaulieu followed up with a big booming slapshot that Phaneuf stopped.

Paquette equalized on the power play at 3:15 of the second, then the Armada took their first lead of the night on Laflamme’s goal at 14:18. After a shift of sustained pressure by Danick Gauthier, Huberdeau and Jurco failed to generate a shot, Paquette took advantage of a turnover at the blueline and beat Corbeil five-hole on a breakaway.

But the Dogs charged back on a power play of their own at 16:52. Tesink took a pass from Gauthier below the goal line and fed out front to Jurco, who banged in his 25^th of the year.

Huberdeau then made it 4-3 at 18:47, taking a pass from Roussel down low and tucking it five-hole from Phaneuf’s left.

The third period was scoreless until the 17:48 mark when Gauthier struck on yet another power play. Jurco picked the puck up behind the net and fed Gauthier in the slot, where he buried the insurance marker to make it 5-3. Gauthier added an empty-netter at 18:09, his team-best 37^th goal of the year. Jurco and Pierre Durepos picked up the assists.

Saint John’s next three games are on the road, beginning Friday in Drummondville against the Voltigeurs. The Sea Dogs return home on Feb. 12 when they host the Prince Edward Island Rocket for the annual Journee des Francofans and Valentine’s Day Spectacular. Tickets are available at the Harbour Station box office, by calling 506-657-1234 or online at www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.