QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Ryan Tesink put an end to the game four marathon with 44 seconds remaining in the second overtime, beating Gatineau goaltender Maxime Clermont on Saint John’s 64th shot on goal, 19th in 2nd OT leading the Sea Dogs to 4-3 wins over the Olympiques.
After missing a golden opportunity with a two-man advantage in first overtime for 1:23, following consecutive penalties to Stephen MacAulay (boarding) and defenseman Pierre Durepot, high sticking, Gatineau saw Tesink take a rebound near the Gatineau crease, putting the puck behind Clermont taking a 3-1 lead in the QMJHL President Cup Final.
A much better start by the Olympiques team in game four saw them break the ice. Hard work along the board by Olympiques defenseman David Weckworth paid dividends.
Getting the puck from Weckworth, Ouellet made a perfect pass to Philip-Michael Devos, who beat Saint John goaltender Jacob DeSerres through the five hole, with a shot from the slot at 6:29.
The crowd got a good indication of what kind of game their favorite was about to play when Gatineau shot three times inside the first 3:35 answering their head coach wish to see his team get a much better start than the preceding game.
Devos, who got Gatineau’s first goal, showed his true colors by forcing Saint John netminder to make great save, Tommy Tremblay and defenseman Nicolas Deslaurier had other Olympiques scoring chances.
The momentum changed after Gatineau got on board first. Two goals 17 seconds apart in the first period put Saint John in command 2-1 before the period ended. Jonathan Huberdeau finished a beautiful three-way passing play, tapping in the puck behind Clermont at 16:44.
Zack Phillips, who had been kept out of the scoring sheet since the QMJHL final began, came out of his funk scoring his first goal of the series, Saint John’s second goal in the game at 17:01 taking a rebound from Stanislav Galiev and beat Gatineau netminder to his right side.
Gatineau fans had some concern when they saw Olympiques captain, defenseman Hubert Labrie, leave the ice in the first period. Labrie tried to come back in the second but had to leave for good in middle of second frame with an undisclosed injury.
Like the first period, Gatineau came out strong, with Devos getting two good scoring opportunities but DeSerres saw the veteran Olympiques center miss the goal on both.
Phillips and Galiev replied with two scoring chances on the first Saint John six shots on goal, Clermont made two great saves keeping his team in the game, trailing by one in the first 9:00 minutes.
Gatineau regained momentum in the third period with two goals 50 seconds apart.
During a penalty to Saint John center Huberdeau at the end of second period, Gatineau didn’t miss their chances, tying the game at two goals apiece, 1:08 into the period. Tye McGinn took a rebound shot from Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and beat Saint John netminder for Gatineau second goal of the game.
Devos, with his second of the night, finished a two-on-two play beating DeSerres, who had been screened by McGinn 50 seconds earlier.
A penalty to Olympiques right winger Tommy Tremblay gave Saint John the chance they hoped for. Sea Dogs defenseman Nathan Beaulieu brought both teams back to square one tying the game 3-3 with his fourth of the playoff.
Beaulieu roofed a shot behind Clermont from the slot after the puck appeared right on his blade, following a first shot taken by Simon Despres, at 5:46. Both teams went in overtime after playing sixty minutes of exciting hockey. Saint John had the best in shots on goal department 36-25.
Gatineau dominated the first overtime period without being able to get a puck behind Saint John netminder. The Olympiques saw golden opportunities slides between their fingers, when Saint John has been found guilty of consecutive penalties to Stephen MacAulay for boarding and Pierre Durepot for high sticking, giving to Gatineau a 1:23 seconds of double men advantage.
DeSerres made key saves keeping his team alive during the whole 1:23. Devos, McGinn, Ouellet got chances to end the overtime for Gatineau but Saint John goaltender had other idea. Both team shots nine times on respective goaltenders.
While Gatineau lost defenseman Hubert Labrie in the last five minutes of the opening period, Saint John saw center Zack Phillips leave the ice for Sea Dogs locker room during the first overtime for what appeared to be a shoulder injury.
After Galiev, in the first overtime, saw his shot hit the post, Mike Thomas did the same in second overtime.
A defensive turnover by Gatineau defenseman Nicolas Deslaurier led to Saint John game winning goal scored by Tesink at 19:16 of second overtime. Placed near Gatineau netminder crease, Tesink jumped on rebound following Galiev’s first shot from the slot.
The series will switch back to Saint John for game five this Friday night May 13 18:00 EDT. Gatineau will try to stay alive forcing game six back at home.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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