QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — With the game tied 1-1 after two periods of play, Saint John defenseman Simon Despres (Pittsburgh Penguins prospect) wristed a shot from the point beating the Gatineau goaltender high on blocker side with less than 8:00 to go in the third, leading the Sea Dogs to their first win, 2-1, over the Olympiques.
Gatineau goaltender Maxime Clermont’s performance earned him second star of the game with 35 save on Saint John 37 shots. But it wasn’t enough on Thursday night to prevent Saint John from taking a 1-0 series lead in the QMJHL President Cup Final.
On the other hand, less occupied, Saint John netminder Jacob DeSerres answered the bell making 22 saves on 23 Gatineau shots.
With the score 1- 1 midway through the second period, the Calgary, Alberta-native gave a good demonstration of his abilities when he stopped a breakaway and maintain the tie with a brilliant save on a one-timer from the blueline from Adam Janosik with 1:07 remaining in the period.
On another occasion, with 28 seconds left to the period, the former Brandon Wheat Kings netminder of the Western Hockey League stopped Gatineau veteran Devos preserving the one goal lead until the end of the game.
With that performance, DeSerres might have reassured some fans who might have some apprehension over his performance in that series.
Gatineau began the game testing Saint John goaltender with three shots, the best one coming from the stick of Philip-Michael Devos.
The Sea Dogs broke the ice when Danick Gauthier, who took Mark Kirkpatrick’s spot on Saint John second line due to upper body injury, beat Gatineau goaltender, following a beautiful individual effort at 12:35 of the opening period.
A penalty to Gatineau forward Cody Linteau forced the Olympiques to defend themselves seeing Saint John scoring leader Jonathan Huberdeau miss an empty net following a great pass from Zack Phillips.
Gatineau tied the game at one goal-a-piece detting a cross ice pass from Tommy Tremblay to defenseman Hubert Labrie whose shot hit Sea Dogs defenseman Eric Gelinas’ left skate before going in at 7:38.
A few minutes later Saint John left winger Stanislav Galiev, saw Maxime Clermont make a key save with his left pad after Sea Dogs forward had Gatineau netminder down.
Dominated in shots on goal after two periods (31-17), Gatineau saw their netminder Clermont make another key save with his blocker with 40 seconds remaining in the period, keeping Saint John from breaking the tie.
Saint John defenseman Simon Despres made the difference with the game winning goal with less than 8:00 to go in third period helping his team to take a 1-0 lead in this QMJHL President Cup Final.
Game two of the series will be played on Saturday May 7, at Harbour Station at 18:00 Eastern day time.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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