EP.173.0 01-26-2012 SEA DOGS VS MONCTON WILD CATS

LAST-MINUTE GOAL TAMES WILDCATS Audio Tim Roszell News 88.9 Video - Merrill's Vision

The Saint John Sea Dogs waited until the eleventh hour but finally came away with a 1-0 win over the Moncton Wildcats Thursday.


Tomas Jurco deflected Nathan Beaulieu's point shot with 8.5 seconds to go and Mathieu Corbeil recorded his team-record fifth shutout as the Dogs won their fourth straight to improve to 35-13-0-2.


Roman Will made 45 saves in a losing cause and was named first star for the Wildcats, who fell to 22-21-3-2.


Saint John earned four points in the Brunswick News Rivalry Cup: three for the regulation win and one for breaking the 4,000-fan mark with a crowd of 4,265. The Sea Dogs now hold a 14.5-11.5 edge in the Rivalry Cup standings.

The Sea Dogs outshot the Wildcats 18-6 in the first period, but were unable to solve Will. Pierre Durepos came close when he fired a shot off the post on a power play midway through the frame. Tomas Jurco had another highlight-reel chance with just over five minutes to go, completing a full spinorama at speed down the right wing, but Will stopped him cold.


Ryan Tesink made his return to the lineup after recovering from a knee injury that required surgery, exactly two months to the day from his last game. The Saint John native may have had a bit too much pent-up energy, however, as he was ejected for abuse of officials at 18:06 of the first after receiving penalties for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct.
The Dogs had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock early in the second period, as Devon MacAusland and Patrick Downe took penalties seven seconds apart, giving Saint John nearly two minutes of 5-on-3 advantage. The Dogs were all around the net and had several chances but were unable to score.


Danick Gauthier had a short-handed chance later in the frame with the Dogs short-handed, as he broke in alone from the right wing, and tried to wait out Will, but the goalie stayed with him and stopped his forehand shot.


The shot clock was even more lopsided in the second period, with Saint John holding a 16-3 edge, but the score remained at zeroes.


Gauthier had another man-down opportunity midway through the third, when Jonathan Huberdeau threaded the needle and sent him in on a breakaway, but once again Will stopped his shot.


After Moncton killed a late power play, the Sea Dogs broke through in the final minute. Beaulieu threw a shot on goal from the left point and Jurco got enough of it to fool Will and deflect it into the back of the net. Pierre Durepos picked up the other assist on the goal, Jurco's 24th of the season.


Saint John is at home again Sunday against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, a 3 p.m. start at Harbour Station. Four-ticket family packages are available for just $46 to all Sunday games. Tickets are available at the Harbour Station box office, by calling 506-657-1234 or online at www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.

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