News889

SAINT JOHN – Stanislav Galiev scored 11:19 into overtime to give the Saint John Sea Dogs a 4-3 victory over Chicoutimi in Game 5 of the President’s Cup semi-finals.

The triumph means Saint John wins the best-of-seven series 4-1, vaulting the Sea Dogs into the QMJHL President’s Cup finals for the third consecutive year.

Galiev scored twice in the game, while Charlie Coyle and Zack Phillips also struck.

The Sea Dogs came out on fire in front of a sellout crowd of 6,311 at Harbour Station.

Coyle opened the scoring on a power play at 7:40 of the first when a Danick Gauthier shot went off Sagueneens defenceman Gabriel
Bourret’s stick, then off the leg of Coyle and into the goal.

Just ten seconds later, Tomas Jurco pounced on a loose puck behind the Chicoutimi goal and fed it in front to Phillips, who buried his
second chance into an open goal with Christopher Gibson caught out of position.

The Sags responded late in the first to cut their deficit in half.

Steve Lebel had a Bourret shot hit him on the upper body and deflect over confused Saint John goalie Mathieu Corbeil.

The goal stood after a review by instant replay officials, and Saint John led 2-1 after one period.

Chicoutimi tied it midway through the middle frame when Dominic Poulin finished off a strong Sags forecheck, making it 2-2 after two periods.

Galiev gave the Sea Dogs the lead again about nine minutes into the third.

After Gibson deflected his initial shot off the back glass, Galiev grabbed the rebound cut in front and tucked it inside the left post.

The Sags would not quit, and tied the game again with just over five minutes left when Yoan Pinette won the race to a Chicoutimi dump-in, and beat Corbeil down low.

Galiev’s winner came with the teams playing 4-on-4.

The smooth-skating Russian pressured Bourret at the left point and stole the puck, racing away on a 2-on-1 with Coyle.

Galiev faked the shot, and then deked to the forehand, tucking it just under the outstretched glove of Gibson for the winner, setting
off a celebration in the Sea Dogs’ home arena.

Saint John will play either Halifax or Rimouski in the President’s Cup beginning Friday night at Harbour Station.

Catch all the action LIVE on News 88.9.

NOTES: Sea Dog scratches were Spencer MacDonald (bicep), Grant West (healthy), Oliver Cooper (healthy), Dylan McGuigan (healthy), and Jordan Moore (healthy). Moore rejoined the club after it returned from Chicoutimi late last week….The only lineup change for Saint John saw Jason Cameron dress in place of West on the fourth line….Galiev’s overtime winner marks only the second time Saint John won a game in extra time in the post-season in front of a hometown crowd. Stephen MacAulay netted the winner in
the Sea Dogs’ 5-4 OT victory over Lewiston in Game 1 of last year’s President’s Cup semi-finals….The victory also marked only the second time Saint John has clinched a playoff series at home. They also won a six-game victory over Victoriaville in the 2010 semi-finals….Until Game 5, the Sea Dogs had never played three consecutive overtime games in the playoffs.

Three Stars: 1. Galiev (SJ) 2. Corbeil (SJ) 3. Lebel (CHI)    Top Dog: Gagne

Game Highlights:

Charlie Coyle Goal, 7:40 1st:

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Zack Phillips Goal, 7:50 1st:

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Stanislav Galiev Goal 1, 9:21 3rd:

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Stanislav Galiev Goal 2, 11:19 OT 1:

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