QUEBEC CITY P.Q. — Saint John played a strong game on the road winning game four 6-1 against Victoriaville on Friday night. Third line center Nicholas Pard contributed with a two goals performance, Nicholas Kirkpatrick with one goal, one assist also played well for the Sea Dogs. Saint John will have the opportunity to end the series in le Colisee Desjardins of Victoriaville on Saturday afternoon.
The Sea Dogs took a 2-0 lead scoring two goals four minutes apart. Saint John assistant Captain Michael Kirkpatrick on the doorstep took a rebound shot from Nicholas Petersen stick that hit the goal post and put it behind Victoriaville Kevin Poulin only 1:51 into the opening period.
Nicholas Pard beat Tigres goaltender five hole giving Saint John a 2-0 lead with his first goal of the night 5:59 after winning a key face off in the Victoriaville defensive zone.
The Sea Dogs played game four without Mike Thomas who earned a one-game suspension following his hit on Tigres defenseman Keven Dupont.
Blair McIsaac saw his game end abruptly when he was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for a high sticking with less than one minutes remaining in the first period. Victoriaville dominated the shots on goal 16-8 but Saint John led 2-0.
After scoring two goals on eight shots in the first period the Sea Dogs scored two more on nine shots in the second.
Saint John added a third goal on their third power plays opportunity when veteran center Mike Hoffman, wristed a shot from the slot beating Poulin top corner 14:03 in the second period.
Stanislav Galiev took his own rebound and stung Tigres netminder scoring Saint John fourth goal at 17:43. Victoriaville dominated shots on goals 11- 8 in second, 28-18 after forty minutes, but the Sea Dogs still led 4-0.
Saint John’s third line played an important role when center Pard scored his second of the game 1:54 into third period for a 5-0 lead.
Victoriaville avoided the shutout scoring a controversial goal with a man advantage when the puck found its way behind Saint John goaltender Marco Cousineau after hitting a skate in the goalmouth scum. Tigres defenseman Emmael Boudreau was credited with Victoriaville only goal.
Taking the place of Thomas suspended for one game, right winger Chuckie Shembrie scored his first of the playoff and Saint John sixth goal in the game with less than two minutes remaining.
Same two teams will face each other in Saturday afternoon contest with the Tigres facing a must win situation. Whether they win next game and force game six or if they lose they will be in vacation.
Goaltenders
Saint John: Marco Cousineau 40 shots 39 saves
Victoriaville: Kevin Poulin 33 shots 27 saves
Power plays
Saint John: 1-5
Victoriaville: 1-3
Three stars selections
First: SNB Marco Cousineau
Second: SNB Michael Kirkpatrick
Third: SNB Nicholas Pard
In Drummondville, the Wildcats took a commanding 3-1 lead in their semi-final series with a 4-2 win in front of 3046 Drummondville fans who returned home, knowing they might run the chance of seeing their favorite for the last time in 2009-10 season, unless they win the next game in Moncton. Four different scorers got Moncton goals.
The Wildcats drew first blood in this game with only 1:09 gone in the opening period. Daniel Pettesson with his fifth of the playoff gave 1-0 lead to Moncton. Drummondville tied the game at once all when Gabriel Dumont got the Voltigeurs on the scoreboard at 2:53.
Before the siren announced the end of the first period, Moncton regained the lead 2-1 with Ted Stephens’ second of the playoff at 11:31.
Both teams traded goals in second period. Drummondville defenseman Remi Blanchard tied the score 2-2 unassisted 3:03 into the period. But again Moncton came back with what became later the goal that made the difference, the game winning goal scored by Alain Saulmier.
Wildcats defenseman Brandon Gormley scored the insurance goal for Moncton the fourth one, in an empty net, with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game.
Goaltenders
Moncton: Nicola Riopel 37 shots 35 saves
Drummondville: Jake Allen 19 shots 14 saves (one empty net goal)
Power plays:
Moncton: 0-2
Drummondville: 0-3
Three stars selections:
First: DRU Benoit Levesque
Second: DRU Marc-Antoine Desnoyers
Third: DRU Christopher DiDominico
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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