| Last updated at 12:17 AM on 15/12/08 |
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P.E.I. Rocket goalie Bobby Nadeau makes the save on a short shot by Matthew Stoddard of the Saint John Sea Dogs during Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Sunday at the Civic Centre. (Guardian photo by Brian McInnis) |
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Another close loss 
Saint John Sea Dogs continue their hold on the struggling P.E.I. squad with a shootout victory
CHARLES REID
The Guardian
It’s not easy being a member of the P.E.I. Rocket, especially after losing another home game by one goal.
This time it’s a 3-2 overtime shootout loss to the Saint John Sea Dogs in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Sunday at the Civic Centre.
“We can’t squeeze one out,” said Rocket head coach Guy Chouinard. “We’re close. Overall, our play was pretty good.
“We were in their zone (for most of the third period), but I thought their goaltender (Karel St-Laurent) played well. Again, close, but no cigar.”
Saint John newcomer Alexei Dostoinov potted the shootout winner and helped the Dogs tally its 13th win over the Rocket in 14 games including last season and the playoffs.
Dostoinov, who joined Saint John from Russia last month, also scored his fifth of the season for the first period’s only goal.
The result marked the second straight game the Rocket held a 2-1 lead before it dissolved into a loss.
Friday, Moncton did the trick and won 3-2 in overtime.
P.E.I. now leads the league with eight overtime or overtime shootout losses.
The Rocket finish a five-game home stand with five points on a victory over Halifax, overtime losses to Victoriaville and Moncton and Sunday’s overtime shootout defeat.
It was a litmus test for the Rocket with three of the QMJHl’s top-10 squads visiting.
Did P.E.I. fail?
Chouinard doesn’t think so and points to a young team going toe-to-toe against squads with real President Cup aspirations, although he’s still miffed by a 5-4 overtime defeat versus the Tigres to open the five games — a contest lost after P.E.I. led 4-0 in the second period.
“I’m disappointed with the game we played against Victoriaville. I wouldn’t say we’re disappointed with the home stand. It’s a learning process,” said Chouinard.
Another new Sea Dog, Joshua Schram, scored his first of the year and tied the things 2-2 at 13:06 in the second after Benjamin Casavant’s 13th at 6:14 and Brandon Street’s fourth of the season gave the Rocket the dreaded one-goal lead at 12:21.
So far, P.E.I. is 0-6 versus Moncton, 0-3 head-to-head with Cape Breton and 0-4 against Saint John.
The trio are first, second and third in the six-team Atlantic Division, respectively. Acadie-Bathurst with 35 points is three ahead of the Rocket.
If P.E.I. finishes fifth in the Atlantic, the league’s new playoff scheme would send it to one of the three Quebec divisions that doesn’t qualify a fourth team.
Val-d’Or’s seven wins in the Telus Western make it the alikely candidate. P.E.I. as the Western fourth seed would face division leader Rouyn-Noranda in the first round.
Considering P.E.I. is 8-9 versus Quebec-based teams and 4-14 against Atlantic squads, maybe starting the post-season against the Huskies isn’t such a bad idea.
P.E.I. finishes the first half with a three-in-three road pack in Quebec, Victoriaville and Drummondville on Wednesday through Friday.
The Christmas trade window opens Saturday and ends Jan 8.
Does it mean the Rocket could be significantly different when it returns to action Dec. 27 versus Cape Breton?
“I don’t think there will be major changes. But we had this conversation last year, you never know,” said Chouinard, who doubles as Rocket director of hockey operations. “We have to make sure we make the right move. Do our homework (and make) deals to help us this year and years down the road.”
Bobby Nadeau (11-18) took the loss in goal for the Rocket while St-Laurent upped his record to 3-4.
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A closer look at the Rocket-Sea Dogs game:
n Outcome - Saint John 3 P.E.I. 2 (overtime shootout).
n Scorers - Saint John: Alexei Dostoinov (5), shootout winner, Joshua Schram (1); P.E.I.: Benjamin Casavant (13), Brandon Street (4).
n Assists - Saint John: Alexei Dostoinov (12), Yann Sauvé (17), Nathan Beaulieu (3), Mike Thomas (5); P.E.I.: Jordan Escott (3), Simon Olsson (7), Jean-Philippe Mathieu (16), Jordon Southorn (20).
n Shots By Period - Saint John: 10-7-6-5, 28; P.E.I.: 10-10-13-2, 35.
n Power Plays - Saint John: 1-7, 14 per cent; P.E.I.: 1-5, 20 per cent
n Hits - Saint John: 10; P.E.I.: 17.
n Attendance - 1,955.
n Next Up - The Rocket (12-16-4-4) finishes up the first half of the season on the road with games in Quebec, Victoriaville and Drummondville on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, respectively. Game time versus Quebec (24-8-0-2) is 8 p.m.
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