MAINEiacs on the brink, lose to St John. Down 3-0 in series

For the first time in the 2011 President's Cup Playoffs, the Lewiston MAINEiacs will be playing for their lives. On Tuesday night, the Saint John Sea Dogs scored four goals in the second period, picking up a 5-2 win, while building a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

After a scoreless first period, the Sea Dogs got on the board early in the second. While on the power play, Michael Kirkpatrick found Jonathan Huberdeau with a centering pass, which was finished by a tap-in at the side of the crease. Less than two minutes later, Saint John added to the lead, as Steven Anthony took a Lewiston turnover and fed Tomas Jurco, who deked his way to a goal. A little more than three minutes later, the Sea Dogs struck again, as Ryan Tesink finished off a cross-crease pass by Jonathan Huberdeau.

With 8:37 left in the middle frame, the MAINEiacs got their first goal. Kirill Kabanov sent a pass across the ice to Jess Tanguy, before getting it back, and knocking a shot in off of the right post, cutting the Saint John lead to two. However, the Sea Dogs had an answer, as Mike Thomas bounced a slow dribbling puck over the line with under two minutes remaining in the period.

Christophe Lalonde got Lewiston's second goal less than a minute into the third period on a rush with Pierre-Olivier Morin, but that was as close as the home team got, as the Sea Dogs iced their win on Stanislav Galiev's empty net marker.

Mathieu Corbeil-Theriault earned his third win of the series, making 28 saves on 30 shots for Saint John. Nicholas Champion allowed four goals on 22 shots in the defeat for Lewiston, before being replaced by Andrey Makarov, who was perfect on seven attempts.

The MAINEiacs and Sea Dogs will play game four of their series on Wednesday night at 7:00, with the game taking place at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

-LEWISTON MAINEiacs-