SUBWAY GAME RECAP: Three Sea Dogs Score Two Goals Each in 7-3 Win Over Moncton
Photo by: Daniel St. Louis / Moncton Wildcats
The Saint John Sea Dogs (16-27-1-1) came out on top in their sixth meeting of the season with the Moncton Wildcats (22-19-0-2) on Saturday night. Continuing their momentum from the win against Bathurst on Friday, the Sea Dogs came out swinging in Moncton with a 7-3 win against their Maritime rivals. Cole Burbidge, Nico Laforge, and Pavel Simek each scored two goals in the win and Brady Burns scored on the empty net with 18 seconds remaining in the game to tie the record for most career goals by a Sea Dog.
Olivier Brideau got the start in net for the Sea Dogs, making 32 saves on 35 shots. Vincent Fillion started for Moncton, stopping 23 of the Sea Dogs’ 29 shots, before being replaced by Jacob Steinman, who stopped the only shot he faced in 6:53 of play.
The Sea Dogs started the game on an early power play, when Moncton forward Jonas Taibel was sent off for slashing four minutes into play.
Jared Cosman was sent off three minutes later on an interference call. The Sea Dogs successfully killed the penalty, thanks in part to a couple of highlight reel saves by Olivier Brideau in net, keeping it a scoreless game.
At 12:55, Maxim Barbashev was sent off for hooking, and this time the Sea Dogs took advantage of the extra skater, when Cole Burbidge found the back of the net with a rocket of a shot.
With five minutes left in the period, play was delayed due to an issue with the bench door. Both teams were sent back to their locker rooms for an early intermission.
When the teams returned to the ice, the final five minutes of the first period were played.
With six seconds remaining on the clock, Nico Laforge scored his fourth goal of the season on a breakaway to make it a two goal game.
Shots on goal after the first were 11-6 for Saint John.
The second period started immediately after the first and the Sea Dogs kept the momentum going, preventing the Wildcats from taking a shot for the first five minutes of play.
Laforge scored his second of the night only 2:21 into the period, receiving a cross crease pass from Alex Drover.
Cosman was sent off for interference at 6:59, and the Wildcats were able to find the back of the net with a goal from Thomas Auger.
Play continued to go back and forth for the rest of the period, but before the buzzer went, the Sea Dogs were able to increase their lead to three once again when Pavel Simek picked up a loose puck and sent it into the open side of the net with 21 seconds remaining in the period.
Shots after the second period were 24-18 for Saint John.
28 seconds into the period, Eriks Mateiko was sent off for hooking. Preston Lounsbury joined him a minute and a half later, sending play to a brief 4-on-4 before the Sea Dogs got the advantage for three and a half minutes.
Pavel Simek scored his second goal of the night on the power play, making it 5-1 off a backhand shot.
One minute later, Yoan Loshing made it 5-2 on a shorthanded breakaway.
Midway through the period, Miles Mueller scored to make it 5-3, but Cole Burbidge wasted no time and only 12 seconds later regained the three goal lead with his second of the night.
With only 18.8 seconds remaining in the game, Brady Burns scored on the empty net to make it 7-3 and tie the record for most career goals by a Sea Dog.
Final shots were 35-31 for Moncton.
Alpine 3 Stars
1 Pavel Simek (2G 1A)
2 Nico Laforge (2G)
3 Thomas Auger (1G)
The Sea Dogs will have a few days off as they travel for a Quebec road trip where they will make stops in Val-d’Or, Rouyn-Noranda, and Gatineau. Their first game will be on Wednesday, February 1st against the Foreurs at 8 PM Atlantic. You can listen to the game with Sea Dogs Radio presented by TD at CFBC 930 AM or watch at watch.chl.ca.
Earlier this week, the Sea Dogs announced the One for All Festival presented by TD. February 17-20 head to TD Station for three games and three tribute performances, capturing the spirit of the 2022 Memorial Cup’s One for All theme. Read more about the festival here and grab your tickets at the TD Station Box Office or online here: Elton John Tribute, Tina Turner Tribute, Lady Gaga Tribute.
