2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup: Three Stars – Huberdeau, Tesink help Dogs defend “Q” title

No. 1 star - Jonathan Huberdeau, Saint John Sea Dogs

The 'Dogs first line really got it going in the team's second game against the Edmonton Oil Kings, and this was the type of game that Huberdeau relishes. He scored the first goal of the game, potting his own rebound past Gabriel Girard. Later in the frame on a 5-on-3 he assisted on Stanislav Galiev's 2-0 goal. The game had to be played out all the way to the full 4-1 win, (Huberdeau scored the empty net goal) but it was pretty well decided midway through the game.

It was a great game for Huberdeau because other than being a wide-open game with a pile of scoring chances, it was also a rather chippy affair and the refs put the whistles in their pocket. Huberdeau, the Saint-Jerome, PQ native played more like an agitator and savvy NHL veteran than in any other game this tournament. He certainly didn't make any friends in the large, loud, partisan Cataractes crowd, many of them two cold ones deep before the pre-game show got underway.

"It's a good team out there, they finish their checks," said Huberdeau, who wasn't ready to call out any officials surrounded by microphones and cameras for the way the game got out of hand, especially late. "You can't do anything about them, and that's it. They let go of some calls but for both of us."

No. 2 star - Ryan Tesink, Saint John Sea Dogs

Mention "Tesink" to Massachusetts native Charlie Coyle, and you'll invoke memories of the 1773 Boston Tea Party. Mention "Tesink" to Shawinigan head-coach Eric Veilleux, and you'll probably evoke muttered swears. Ryan Tesink, the 6'0" St. Louis 6th rounder was all over the ice against Shawinigan, matching the physical tone of the game and getting under the skin of the Cataractes best players.

Tesink primarily matched up against the Cats' otherwise unstoppable first line of Kirill Kabanov-Michael Chaput-Anton Zlobin, who clicked on the powerplay but didn't get it going at even strength. Tesink displayed a strong body presence along the wall and forced the turnover that led to Saint John's third goal—a goal he scored after immediately cutting to the net, forcing traffic in front, and forcing the rebound past Gabriel Girard.

His teammates were also appreciative of his effort, as Tesink walked into the post-game scrums wearing a golden helmet. "We give it out each game, we give it out all playoff run. I guess I just decided to wear it out for a change." Tesink won the golden helmet for the second time in the playoffs.

No. 3 star - Mathieu Corbeil, Saint John Sea Dogs

Goaltending hasn't been a huge story in this tournament, but in a high-flying game with several scoring chances and shots on goal for either team, Saint John starter Mathieu Corbeil was sharp. The best save of the game belonged to Girard robbing Charles-Olivier Roussel with his glove at the other end of the ice, but what Corbeil's saves lacked in aesthetics, he made up for them in volume.

Corbeil's .863 save percentage was the lowest in the tournament coming into the game, but he officially stopped 30 of 31 shots, and its not like many of them were low-quality attempts: Shawinigan had 19 excellent scoring chances in the game, taking many shots from between the circles and in the high slot area. The Sea Dogs' defence allowed him to see the pucks, and he did his job.

"Sometimes you think, oh, you played well because of the shots, but the shots don't indicate the play in front of me," said Corbeil, who was really willing to give credit to his strong game tonight to his teammates. There was limited traffic in front of Corbeil, but the shots he faced came from very close range. "I don't really count the scoring chances, but we were controlling the front of the net."

Honourable mention, Stanislav Galiev, Saint John Sea Dogs

Stas Galiev scored his first goal of the tournament, but more than that, Galiev said he was happy that it ended up being the winning goal, an absolute laser of a wrist shot from the high slot on a 5-on-3.

"Well I didn't see goalie where he stand," said Galiev with a smile. "The guys were in front of me, and I take the shot."

Game Grade: We saw everything and then some out of Saint John tonight, and a very high-event hockey game with lots of shots and chances. Would have been nice if the out-come had been in doubt, since a flurry of Shawinigan shots at the end of the game would have been more fun that what we got instead. A.