QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Entering the QMJHL President Cup final as the Underdog the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada showed in Saint John playing strong game but at the end Saint John came out on winning side defeating Blainville-Boisbriand 6-3 to win game one. Julien Gauthier and Matthew Highmore ended their game with respectively three points each (2g-1a). T.J.Melancon on visiting team was the best offensively with two goals. 
Saint John opened the scoring first taking advantage of their first power play opportunity as Julien Gauthier scores first of the two goals in the game beating Armada goaltender Samuel Montembeault 5:13 into first period.
The Sea Dogs add a second goal into the initial period this time as they were killing a penalty to teammates Kyle Ward who had been found guilty of hooking. Taking advantage of a turnover at Saint John blue line, Matthew Highmore pick up the puck going on breakaway t5o beat Armada netminder high on stick side at 7:25.
Trailing by two the Armada answered back with two minutes remaining in first period cutting Sea Dogs leads in half. T.J. Melancon put the Armada on scoreboard with his first of two goals in the game, his fourth of the playoff beating former Quebec Remparts goaltender who saw all the action in the playoff Callum Booth.
In the middle frame with the score been 2-1 the intensity went little bit higher as Saint John regained their two goal leads with Matthew Highmore second goals in the game scoring his fifth of the playoff 2:52 into second period.
Having a reputation of never giving up Blainville-Boisbriand replied bringing back his team to one goal behind their opponent as T.J. Melancon scoring his second of the night at 10:55.
Sea Dogs came back 18 seconds later regaining for second times in the game their two goals lead. Scoring his ninth of the playoff and also his second in the game Julien Gauthier scored at 11:13 of second period.
The visitor again came back cutting Saint John lead to only one goal with Armada right winger Morgan Adam Moisan third of the playoff at 16:53.
The second periods ended as Sea Dogs scored last goal of the middle frame with Saint John right winger Mathieu Joseph scoring his 12th of the playoff on power play at 19:45. Saint John regained their two goal leads leading 5-3 after forty minutes of play.
After seeing a combine three goals scored in first period, five others by both teams in second stanza, only one was scored in the third periods and it came from the stick Saint John center Nathan Noel who scored his 2nd of the playoff in an empty net to complete the scoring giving a 6-3 wins to Saint John over Blainville-Boisbriand.
Game two of the QMJHL President Cup Final will be on Saturday night in Saint John.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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