QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Undefeated in their first seven games at home in Harbour Station, the Sea Dogs needed to go to a second overtime before seeing Zack Phillips put the puck behind the Rimouski goalie leading Saint John to a 3-2 win.
Having the best scoring opportunities in the first overtime Rimouski began the second extra session seeing Saint John netminder Mathieu Corbeil keep the game alive with a glove save on Peter Straka. Jakub Culek missed an empty net on a two-on-one breakaway with center Scott Oke.
But as often happens in these circumstances, Saint John center came out from behind the net and took a shot that Oceanic goalie Jacob Gervais-Chouinard was unable to keep in his glove giving first game to Saint John.
Saint John opened the President Cup final by scoring the first two goals in span of 27 seconds.
Nathan Beaulieu was the one who got the credit of scoring first goal in the series on a three-on-one breakaway using Brad Tesink as decoy 45 seconds in. Phillips and Charles Coyle got the helpers on Beaulieu 4th of the playoffs.
Sloppy play down low by Rimouski defenseman Casey Babineau led to Sea Dogs second goal. Tomas Jurco made the score 2-0 Saint John 27 seconds later getting the puck from Stanislav Galiev from right faceoff circle. Jurco’s shot went between Oceanic goaltender’s pads.
Best scoring chances from Rimouski in first period came from the stick of Jakub Culek and Jean-Francois Plante (three times). Best Oceanic player on the ice was definitely defenseman Jerome Gauthier-Leduc.
Rimouski took advantage of Saint John first two penalties in second periods to tie game 2-2. First, with Saint John center Danick Gauthier in penalty box, Peter Trainor on a nifty pass from Alex Belzile (40th points in playoff career) scored Rimouski first goal at 5:52 into middle frame.
The Oceanic came back less than eight minutes later tying the score 2-2. Already getting an assist on first Rimouski goal, Belzile took a loose puck near goalie’s crease and pushed it behind Sea Dogs netminder Mathieu Corbeil at 13:24. Nathan Beaulieu was in the box for Saint John.
The teams played relatively even at even strength in first two periods. After Saint John took the lead by two inside first 1:12 in opening period, Rimouski tied the game on their two power plays opportunity in second frame.
If play in the first forty minutes was even, Rimouski had the advantage in first overtime without been able to put puck behind Corbeil. Each time the line of Alexandre Mallet, Peter Trainor and Alex Belzile step on the ice Rimouski got territorial advantage but was unable to complete.
Culek and Belzile in a two-on-one breakaway thought they had the chance to end the overtime in Rimouski favor, but the Sea Dogs goalie said no. Scott Oke formerly of Saint John also got two great chances to end the game but again unable to finish.
Saint John saw Gervais-Chouinard been lucky when Galiev hit the post. For his part Gauthier missed an open net with 5:21 remaining in first overtime.
Game two of QMJHL President Cup final is schedule for Saturday.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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