QUEBEC CITY P.Q. — Both teams played exciting hockey on Friday night but were unable to determine a winner in regulation time. The score after 60 minutes was 2-2. Fans in Moncton knew what will be the final score, hoping it would turn out in their favor.
Unable to clear their zone, Sea Dogs right winger Nicholas Petersen took a rebound from Yann Sauve’s shot beating Wildcats netminder Nicola Riopel along the post 12:43 into the first OT session for Saint John’s 3-2 win over Moncton.
The QMJHL President Cup Final now is tied 2-2 with next game tonight (Saturday) in Saint John.
With the score 2-1 Saint John after two, Moncton came out strong to begin the third period tying the score 2-2 on Cole MacMillan’s second of the playoff 2:40 into third period.
The Wildcats forced Saint John goaltender to make great saves shooting 18 times without being able to add a third goal. On the other end, Moncton goaltender Riopel kept his team alive with a miraculous save with 1:20 remaining in the third period pushing both teams to overtime.
Moncton came back home after two days off having time to prepare a better game plan following their first loss in this series.
In this Friday’s edition of Telegraph-Journal, Moncton defenseman Mark Barberio was the first to recognize his team didn’t play their best game.
“They played like it was game 7. We played like it was exhibition game at times. We hung our goaltenders out to dry way too much by giving up quality scoring chances. We weren’t there for our goaltenders Nicola (Riopel) and Shane Owen,” said Barberio.
Gabriel Bourque agreed with his teammate saying, “It wasn’t our best game. If you look at the way we played in third period, we have to carry that over (tonight’s) games.”
“Saint John has lots of offensive talent so you have to play a tight-checking against them. If you give them too much time and space to make plays, they can do lots of damage. They played with more intensity than us in the first two periods we need to come out a lot stronger to start (tonight’s) game.”
Saint John made sure to start the game on stronger note being the first team to open the scoring 47 seconds into the first period. Sauvé wristed a shot from the point beating a partially screened Riopel.
Saint John ended the first period dominating the shots on goal 11-4.
Beneficiary of their third power play Moncton saw Saint John add a second goal on Michael Kirkpatrick’s unassisted goal at 16:12 of second period.
With only 6 seconds remaining to Saint John defenseman Pierre Durepot’s penalty Moncton cut Sea Dogs leads in half when Marek Hrivik beat Marco Cousineau with 2:40 remaining in the second period.
With 17:20 to go in the third period, the Wildcats tied the game at two. For Cole MacMillan it wasn’t the nicest goal, but it put Moncton on the scoreboard nonetheless.
Goaltenders:
Saint John: Marco Cousineau 34 shots 32 saves
Moncton: Nicola Riopel 44 shots 41 saves
Power plays:
Saint John: 0-3
Moncton: 1-6
Three stars selections:
First: SNB Nicholas Petersen
Second: SNB Marco Cousineau
Third: MON Nicola Riopel
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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