Saturday, October 1, 2011

Shutout In Victoriaville

FINAL: Saint John 0, Victoriaville 7

VICTORIAVILLE – It was blowout city at Colisee Desjardins on Saturday.

The Victoriaville Tigres hammered the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-0 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. The loss halts the Sea Dogs’ winning streak at five games and also marks the first time they have been shutout in nearly two years.

Saint John played fairly well in the first period but still fell behind 2-0. In the second period the Tigres tacked on two more and in the third blew it open by scoring three.

Mathieu Corbeil made his fifth straight start in net but was pulled after allowing three goals on 15 shots. His replacement, Charlie Millen, didn’t do so well either as he allowed four goals on 21 shots.

The Sea Dogs fell into some penalty trouble once again and gave Victoriaville seven power play opportunities. The Tigres scored three of their seven markers on the man advantage.

Fatigue may have also been a factor with Saint John playing their third road game in four days.

The Tigres were firing on all cylinders. Yannick Dube and Brandon Hynes each scored twice while Carl-Antoine Delisle, Pier-Luc Pelletier and Danick Emond all added singles.

Goaltender David Honzik stopped all 30 shots he faced in net and earned first star honours.

Whatever the Sea Dogs need to improve on they will have plenty of time to fix it. They have a week to prepare for the Rimouski Oceanic on Saturday at Harbour Station before hosting this same Tigres team this Sunday.

FIRST PERIOD
Just seconds in, Yannick Dube was at the side of the net and had a wide open cage but was unable to poke the rolling puck in.

The Sea Dogs went to the man advantage at 1:31. While shorthanded, Philippe Halley had a short breakaway but was denied by Sea Dogs goaltender Mathieu Corbeil. Back at even strength, Philippe Maillet deflected a shot on net that got behind Corbeil and off the post but stayed out.

A few moments later, Nathan Beaulieu centered the disc to Stanislav Galiev who had a clear shooting lane but Tigres ‘tender David Honzik was cool as a cucumber and made the chest save.

Back the other way came the Tigres not long after the Galiev chance. Simon Darveau came down the wing and let a shot go that was juggled but eventually held by Corbeil. Darveau and Spencer MacDonald had some shoving after the scoring chance, resulting in some four-on-four play at 10:37.

A few minutes later, Galiev sent the puck ahead to Danick Gauthier who was in alone but fired it right into the glove of Honzik. Then, Brandon Hynes was buzzing in front of the Sea Dogs net, forcing Corbeil to dive out and smother the puck.

Victoriaville made it 1-0 at 14:57. Carl-Antoine Delisle carried the puck on a two-on-one. He kept it and snipped one over the shoulder of Corbeil to give the home side the lead.

Then at 15:32, the Tigres struck again. Dube finished off a beautiful passing play involving Maillet and Yanni Gourde to double their lead.

Victoriaville had some pressure on late in the frame but the Dogs were able to hang on.

Shots were 12-10 in the first period.

SECOND PERIOD
Just a few seconds in, Dube let a shot go from the corner that deflected off the glove of Corbeil and stayed out.

The Tigres connected again at 1:42 after Beaulieu lost the puck, allowing Hynes to net an unassisted marker and give Victoriaville a 3-0 advantage. The goal would chase Corbeil from the net and put Charlie Millen in.

After several minutes of absolutely nothing happening, the Sea Dogs began to get some pressure on. Tomas Jurco let a sharp angle shot go from along the goal line but was denied by Honzik. A few moments later, the puck was in the middle of a scramble but stayed out. Then MacDonald was in the slot but fired high and wide of the net.

The Tigres went to the man advantage at 12:05 as MacAulay was called for hooking. Victoriaville had some good pressure on but could not add to their lead.

Out of the box, MacAulay had a great chance but was stopped by Honzik. The puck sat above the crease area for Ryan Tesink who let the disc go but was denied by the Victoriaville backstopper as well.

The Dogs kept some pressure on again following those opportunities. Tesink came in but was stopped by Honzik again. Then he performed a wraparound and it looked as though the puck may have crossed the line with a few Sea Dogs putting their arms up to celebrate. But the officials waved it off and did not review it.

The Tigres went back to the man advantage at 17:51 as MacDonald headed off. But the Tigres couldn’t get much going and it remained a 3-0 game.

Back at even strength, Galiev and Oliver Cooper broke in on a two-on-one. Galiev kept the disc and winded up for a big shot that just sailed wide of going in.

At 17:51, Tesink was sent to the box. On this power play the Tigres would connect as Stefan Fourner made a wraparound move and threw it on net. Dube was in front to bang it in and give the home side a 4-0 lead.

The Dogs would be awarded a power play at 19:15, one that would carry over into the third stanza.

Shots were 11-8 Saint John in the second.

THIRD PERIOD
The third period was a disaster.

While shorthanded, Halley sprung Philippe Danault for a short break early in the frame but was denied by the pad of Millen.

At 3:23, Danick Emond scored to give the Tigres a 5-0 lead.

Shortly after, Honzik slide across the crease to rob Beaulieu after he was setup nicely by Gauthier.

At 6:11, Aidan Kelly headed to the box. On the power play at 6:47, Hynes fired a hard wrist shot from inside the line that got past Millen to give Victoriaville a 6-0 advantage.

After Saint John failed to get anything going on a power play of their own, Frederic Tanguay was stopped in close which was followed by Millen robbing Fournier in the crease.

Devon Oliver-Dares headed off for slashing at 15:33. On the man advantage, Pier-Luc Pelletier banged in a rebound to make it 7-0 Tigres.

Both teams took some penalties late. Emond hit the crossbar.

Shots were 16-9 Tigres in the final frame.

The Sea Dogs went 0-for-4 on the power play while the Tigres went 3-for-7.

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