QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Coming to Blainville-Boisbriand after winning their two games at home, Saint John offered another strong performance pushing their opponent Armada on verge of elimination. Already shutting their opponent once in the series in 
game two last Saturday, the former Quebec Remparts netminder Callum Booth, was perfect stopping all 22 Armada shots in 2-0 win in Game 3. Samuel Dove-McFalls scored Saint John two goals, the last one scored in an empty net with 11 seconds remaining to the game.
Trailing 0-2 in the President Cup Final, Blainville-Boisbriand played their best hockey in the series up to now. They got several key chances but Saint John goaltender has been very solid.
Showing a power play percentage of 23.1 percent with 6-in-26, Saint John got two power play chances but on both times the Armada successfully killed the penalties without allowing a shots on goal.
Blainville-Boisbriand got only one chance with a man up but Sea Dogs also made great job not allowing a shot on goal. Armada center Alexandre Alain thought he had scored first goal in the game but referee Dominick Bedard blew the whistle before the puck had crossed the goal line with 2:31 remaining in first period.
The hard fought battle between the two teams continued in first half of second periods where both teams battle very hard for every inches of ice. Killing a second penalty in the game this time to Chase Stewart for interference, Saint John broke the ice just as the penalty to Stewart ended.
Entering the offensive zone Sea Dogs forward Mathieu Joseph made perfect pass to Samuel Dove-McFalls who just wrist a shot over Armada goaltender Samuel Montembeault glove side at 12:28. For teammate Joseph it was his 28 points in the playoff, his 15 assists.
Saint John defenseman was found guilty of closing his hand on the puck resulting in two minutes penalty. Armada ended the period with their third power plays in the game.
Blainville-Boisbriand began the third period with 1:13 of power play but best scoring chance came from Saint John as Mathieu Joseph went on breakaway but Armada netminder kept his team in the game as Montembeault made another key save.
Playing physical ending their check every time they had the chance Sea Dogs put pressure in Armada defensive zone with Joe Veleno getting another great scoring chances but again the Florida Panthers third round selection (77th overall) in 2015 made the save.
Still trailing by one Armada left winger Maxime Collin has been found guilty of delaying the game giving another chance to Sea Dogs power play unit. Again Blainville-Boisbriand played solid hockey preventing Saint John to add to their lead.
Unable to get on the scoreboard Armada head coach and General Manager decided to pull his netminder with 1:55 remaining. The best Armada offensive line of Pierre-Luc Dubois, Alex Barre-Boulet and Alexandre Alain put pressure in Saint John zone with less than two minutes remaining but like Montembeault, the Sea Dogs goalie Callum Booth still saw everything and was able to make the game. With the net empty Samuel Dove-McFalls scored his second in the game this time in an empty net to seal Blainville-Boisbriand fate for third times in the President Cup Final series.
Game four will be this Wednesday in Blainville-Boisbriand.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews
You must be logged in to post a comment.