QUEBEC CITY P.Q. — After taking game one in Saint John on Friday night, the Moncton Wildcats took control of game two Sunday afternoon defeating Saint John 9-3.
Playing a key role in the first game with a hat trick Gabrel Bourque scored two more in game two. Scott Brannon added two goals and Randy Cameron had two goals and one assist.
Saint John head coach Gerard Gallant knew his team had room for improvement.
Unfortunately nothing went right for his team on Sunday afternoon. Allowing two goals on 10 shots in the opening period, he saw his team victimized for four goals on six shots in the second. The Wildcats scored three on 16 shots in the third.
Getting a two-way commitment from Moncton players in game one, the Wildcats took a 2-0 lead in the opening period of game 2 with two even strength goals.
A beautiful setup play by defenseman Brandon Gormey led to the Wildcats first goal. Gormley passed to center Kelsey Tessier who found Bourque tipping the puck over Saint John goaltender Marco Cousineau for Bourque fifteen goals of the playoff 7:30 into first period.
A losing battle for the puck in Saint John defensive zone by defenseman Christian Morin against Brannon led to Moncton’s second goal. Wildcats center Brannon scored his third of the playoff unassisted.
The Wildcats added a third goal within the first minutes of second period. Bourque got his second of the game completing great plays from Randy Cameron and Alex Saulmier.
Danick Gauthier finally got Saint John or scoreboard 1:48 minutes later with first Sea Dogs goal cutting Wildcats leads to 3-1.
Moncton was very opportunistic in second periods scoring four times on six shots.
Moncton came back regaining their three goals lead with first power play goal of the night. Wildcats defenseman David Savard was the architect of Moncton fourth goal when he found Brannon for his second of the night little less than five minutes later at 7:38.
Not satisfied by the way the game went on, head coach Gallant decided to make a goaltending change pulling his starting goaltender Cousineau replacing him with Karel St Laurent 10:09 in the second period.
The goaltending change didn’t seem to affect Moncton game plan. St Laurent didn’t wait long before being welcomed in the game. Tessier beat him with a backhand in what was considered a back breaker goal at 11:39. Cameron scored Moncton’s sixth goal 1:17 later beating St. Laurent five hole.
Before the second period ended Saint John scored their second goal in the game when Captain Mike Thomas beat Moncton goaltender Nichola Riopel with 33 seconds remaining in the period.
Moncton continued their domination adding three goals, two of them with a man-advantages. Cameron unassisted, with his second of the night 1:53 into third period, Simon Jodoin (4:04) with a shot from the blue line and Alain Saulmier (7:48) scored in the third.
Chuckie Schembrie scored Saint John last goals.
The series will go back in Saint John for game number 3 on Tuesday night.
Goaltenders:
Saint Jon: Marco Cousineau / Karel St Laurent (10:09 in 2nd period)
Moncton: Nichola Riopel / Shane Owen (19:20 3rd period)
Power plays:
Saint John: 0-3
Moncton: 3-8
Three stars selections:
First: MON Scott Brannon
Second: MON Gabriel Bourque
Third: MON Randy Cameron
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
