The Saint John Sea Dogs registered another decisive victory over the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, prevailing 7-1 Saturday in Game 2 of their best-of-seven President's Cup playoff series. Jonathan Huberdeau had a hat trick for his first three goals of the playoffs, on the heels of Friday's four-assist effort. Michael Kirkpatrick had a goal and two assists and Stanislav Galiev and Simon Despres added a goal and a helper each. Zack Phillips had three assists a night after registering the first four-goal game in Sea Dogs history, and Tomas Jurco chipped in two helpers. Steven Anthony added a third-period marker to round out the scoring before 4,012 fans at Harbour Station. Jacob DeSerres made 14 saves for his second win in as many nights as the Sea Dogs took a 2-0 series lead. Olivier Jodoin had the lone Cape Breton goal and Andrew Hayes made 30 saves in the loss. The Sea Dogs punished Cape Breton with six power play goals in Friday's 10-0 series-opening win, and the trend continued early in Game 2. Screaming Eagles captain Morgan Ellis was penalized for checking from behind just over a minute in. Huberdeau capitalized with a power-play marker at 1:49 when Kirkpatrick's centering pass from the left-wing corner deflected to him to set up an easy tuck-in. Phillips registered the other assist. Galiev extended the lead to 2-0 with a beautiful individual effort at 1:40 of the second. The skilled Russian forward performed a toe-drag move followed by a spin that sent a Cape Breton defender falling to the ice, then snapped a shot high to the blocker side of Hayes. Tomas Jurco and Kirkpatrick collected assists on the goal, Galiev's third of the playoffs. Huberdeau struck again on another power play at 9:37, set up when Denis Kindl was penalized two minutes for tripping Nathan Beaulieu into the boards. Just nine seconds into the man advantage, Huberdeau corralled a rebound to make it 3-0, with assists from Beaulieu and Simon Despres. Kirkpatrick made it 4-0 just 34 seconds later, snapping a shot high to the glove side for his first of the playoffs. Phillips and Huberdeau picked up the assists. Jodoin got the Eagles on the board at 13:31 of the second. Wes Herrett took advantage of a giveaway and fired a long shot, and Jodoin capitalized on the rebound. Huberdeau completed the hat trick at the five-minute mark of the third, finishing a great passing play started when Phillips created a turnover just inside the offensive blueline. Phillips fed Galiev on the left wing, and he sent a cross-crease pass that Huberdeau finished with a backhand to restore the four-goal cushion. Despres made it 6-1 at 7:39 of the final frame, arriving on the scene to finish a goalmouth scramble after Alexandre Beauregard created a turnover to set up a chance for Jurco. Anthony ran the lead to 7-1 at 11:18, taking a pass out front from Scott Oke, who won the puck with some great work behind the net. Games 3 and 4 of the series are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Cape Breton, both 7 p.m. starts. Tim Roszell will have the call on News 88.9 FM http://www.news889.com/ Fans can also catch all the action online via the official TELUS QMJHL webcast (click http://qmjhl.mytelus.com HERE to order; charges apply). Game 5, if necessary, will be back at Harbour Station Friday at 7:30 p.m.
