truebluefan

On the strength of an impressive 26-save effort from star goaltender Olivier Roy and a three goal, one assist performance by overage winger Joey Haddad, the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles handed the Saint John Sea Dogs a 6-0 loss at Centre 200 on Friday night.

The Screaming Eagles went 3-for-9 on the power play and 6-for-6 on the penalty kill in handing the Sea Dogs their fourth loss of the month. Saint John now owns a record of 25-21-2-2, 18 points behind second-place Cape Breton (35-13-1-1) on the QMJHL Atlantic Division's standings board.

Friday's defeat marks the fist time this season that the Sea Dogs have been held scoreless. The last time the Sea Dogs were shutout was on March 1, 2008 at the Dave Keon Arena in Rouyn-Noranda.

In a relief effort, rookie goaltender Karel St-Laurent performed well between the pipes for Saint John on Friday, allowing only one even-strength goal during 38:22 of playing time after starter Robert Mayer was pulled early in the second period. St-Laurent finished the game with 22 saves, several of which were of highlight-reel-calibre.

The home team scored twice in the opening ten minutes of play, as Joey Haddad (short-handed) and Francis Meileur (power play) both netted special teams markers to give the Screaming Eagles a 2-0 lead midway through the first period.

Cape Breton went up 3-0 early in period number two, with a three-on-two break leading to Vincent Lavigueur banging home his 13th goal of the year after a Taylor MacDougal shot produced an ample rebound that the 19-year old centre quickly converted into an offensive strike.

Karel St-Laurent took over goaltending duties for Saint John following Lavigueur's transition tally, with import net minder Robert Mayer exiting the match having surrendered three goals on ten shots faced.

A streaking Shea Kewin very nearly produced the first goal of the night for the Sea Dogs a moment later, firing a shot that beat Roy cleanly at the end of an odd-man rush. The 20-year old forward's blast struck iron on its netward journey however, as the bounces continued to go Cape Breton's way well into the middle frame.

The visiting squad from south western New Brunswick went on their sixth power play of the evening late in the second period, as Michael Stinziani was awarded a two-minute sentence in the penalty box for hooking. Saint John was unable to capitalize on what would be their final numerical advantage of the match however, as Friday's intra-divisional showdown reached the forty minute mark with the Sea Dogs trailing by three despite owning a 20-17 advantage on the shot clock.

A close-range one-timer off the stick of Joey Haddad gave Cape Breton a 4-0 lead two minutes into the third period, with Chris Culligan and Francis Meuilleur both picking up assists on the play.

Ryan Sparling and Michael Ward then partook in an intense scrap in the 45th minute of play, with uppercuts, haymakers, right crosses and left hooks being exchanged with fierce rapidity. The veterans' spirited bout ended with Sparling taking a close decision, a modicum of momentum being momentarily swung in Saint John's favour.

Another tussle took place in front of the Sea Dogs' bench thirteen minutes into regulation's final frame, with Josh Schram and Morgan Ellis fighting to a draw during a Cape Breton power play.

Joey Haddad then put the finishing touches on his hat trick, scoring from a sharp angle to record the twentieth goal of his season with 5:21 remaining in the third. Robert Slaney expanded the hosts' lead to six late in the match, firing a high wrist shot past St-Laurent's glove hand to improve his 2008-09 goals total to 25.

The Sea Dogs now return to the Port City where they will ready to face Patrick Roy and the Quebec Remparts on Sunday afternoon at Harbour Station. Tickets to this highly-anticipated 4pm contest - designated ‘Guaranteed Fun Day' as well as ‘Fan-Made Sign Day' - can be obtained by calling the arena box office at (506) 657-1234.

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