RECAP: The Great Collapse. Dogs Lose 7-4.

FINAL: Saint John 4, Bathurst 7

BATHURST – The Acadie-Bathurst Titan scored seven unanswered goals en route to a 7-4 comeback win over the Saint John Sea Dogs on Sunday afternoon at the KC Irving Regional Centre.

The Sea Dogs scored four goals in the first 12 minutes of the game but could not contain the league’s worst offensive team in the final two periods. Bathurst scored five times in the second period and added two more in the third for the win.

Saint John certainly didn’t have a team loaded with defensive experience and depth for this game. Rookie Antoine Landry got the start in net and veteran David Weckworth was out hurt along with Olivier LeBlanc and Jeremy Doucet. Jurij Repe was thrown out of the game in the first, leaving Saint John’s backend loaded with rookies and inexperience.

The loss basically ends any hopes of the Sea Dogs moving up in the Telus Maritimes Division standings. They still have a shot at making the playoffs as they are two points back of the Shawinigan Cataractes with three games to play. The two teams that miss the playoffs have a shot at the first overall pick in the QMJHL Entry Draft and that, obviously, wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Scott Oke and Guillaume Brisebois each had two goals in this game while singles came from Alexandros Soumakis, Alexandre Gosselin, and Nicholas Blanchard. Jacob Brennan allowed three goals on six shots before getting yanked. Miguel Sullivan made 28 saves in relief and also picked up an assist.

Saint John had a pair of goals from Olivier Cooper and singles from Matthew Highmore and Samuel Dove-McFalls. Antoine Landry allowed five goals on 26 shots and was replaced by Sebastien Auger to start the third. Auger made five saves in relief.

GAMEDAY 65 - at Bathurst

A preview of today’s game between the Saint John Sea Dogs and Acadie-Bathurst Titan…

When and where: Today at 3:00 PM AST, KC Irving Regional Centre

TV/Radio: TELUS Webcast/News 88.9

Records: The Sea Dogs are sixth in the Telus Maritimes Division and 17^th overall in the QMJHL with a 19-40-2-3 record for 43 points. The Titan are fifth in the Telus Maritimes Division and 15^th overall with a 20-39-4-2 record for 46 points.

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 4-0 loss to the Halifax Mooseheads last night at Harbour Station. The Dogs only recorded 12 shots in the shutout loss. The Titan are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Moncton Wildcats at home on Friday night. The Wildcats went 3-for-4 on the power play.

2013-14 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs are 5-3-0-0 against the Titan this season while Bathurst is 3-4-0-1 against Saint John.

Last meeting: These two met last Sunday at the KC Irving Regional Centre with the Titan defeating the Sea Dogs 3-1. Antoine Landry allowed three goals on 30 shots in the loss.

Random stat: Bathurst's 133 goals scored this season is the fewest in the league.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Titan: Scott Oke

SJ notes: Two points back of the final playoff spot… 2-7-1-0 in their last 10 games and have lost three straight… Saint John plays their final four games of the season on the road… this is Saint John’s final regular season game in the province… Matthew Highmore has six assists against the Titan this season… Jurij Repe has penalty minutes in five straight games.

BAT notes: 3-7-0-0 in their last 10 games and have lost two straight… 13 of their 20 wins have come at home…    Jacob Brennan is third in saves… 12-26-2-1 against the Maritimes Division… their 11.9% power play rating is the worst in the league… averaging 2.02 goals per game, the lowest in the league.

News & Notes From Saturday's Game

Mooster club making a good time stuck on the highway heading to Saint John to cheer on the Moise pic.twitter.com/5AT2E0I92e
— Coleen Anne Andrews (@coleen24) March 8, 2014

The Halifax Mooster Club made the trip to Harbour Station yesterday. Their bus broke down about a half hour outside the city but they were able to make it on time. Good stuff.

Some other stuff from last night’s game…

• With Saint John losing and Shawinigan losing in a shootout, the Cataractes are now two points up on the Sea Dogs for the final playoff spot. The Dogs have four games remaining while the Cats have three.
• The team’s trio of overage players – Lukas Walter, David Weckworth, and Jason Cameron – were honoured before the game. A video tribute of pictures was played. The three were also named the game’s three stars.
• Halifax dominated at times in the first period, outshooting Saint John 8-0 in the first half of the frame and 13-4 overall. Saint John didn’t get their first shot until there was 9:17 left. Sebastien Auger and the Dogs were able to keep it scoreless though, which was good.
• Despite getting plenty of power play time in the second, Saint John just couldn’t get anything going offensively and that really cost them the game. They were outshot 15-4 by the Moose in the second.
• Saint John’s offense couldn’t get much of anything going this entire game. They had just four shots in each period for a game total of 12. Only four of those 12 shots were considered dangerous. The Dogs went 0-for-8 on the power play.
• The 12 shots ties Saint John with Bathurst (January 29^th) for the fewest shots in one game this season.
• This wraps up the home portion of Saint John’s regular season schedule. They finish the year with a 10-21-1-2 record at Harbour Station and were outscored 119-86.
• 5,824 were at the game for Fan Appreciation Day. It was the largest crowd of the season at Harbour Station.
• Defenseman Shane MacDonald made his QMJHL debut in this game, replacing Sheehan Kirkwood who was reassigned back to the MHL’s Valley Wildcats. MacDonald, wearing No. 2, had one hit and a fight against Samuel Leblanc in the second period.
• Philippe Gadoury was unreal in this game. He had two goals but could have easily had a few more.
• Nikolaj Ehlers’ goal scoring streak ended at eight games. But with an assist, he did extend his point streak to 10 games.
• Jonathan Drouin did not play for the Mooseheads. He was reportedly sick.
• The Moose are getting hot at the right time. They have won 10 straight games and are four points back of first-place Baie-Comeau with three to play. Halifax hosts Saint John next Friday.
• The Sea Dogs were without forwards Joey Richard (shoulder), Stephen Anderson (upper body), and Marcus Cuomo (healthy) along with defensemen Michael Abbott (wrist), Olivier LeBlanc (upper body), and Jeremy Doucet (upper body).

Hoffman Scores First NHL Goal

It took some time, but former Sea Dogs forward Mike Hoffman finally scored his first National Hockey League goal on Saturday.

Hoffman’s goal came at 9:36 of the second period on a power play in the Ottawa Senators’ 5-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Video of the goal can be found here since the clip refuses to embed on this blog.

The goal came just 38 seconds after Hoffman recorded his first NHL point – a great assist on a Kyle Turris goal.

Hoffman finished the game with two points, three shots, and two hits in 14:48 of ice time. This was his eighth game with the Sens this season.

The Kitchener native played in one NHL game in 2011-12 and three last season but had never recorded a point.

RECAP: Shutdown. Dogs Lose 4-0.

FINAL: Halifax 4, Saint John 0

SAINT JOHN – 12 shots.

The Saint John Sea Dogs could only get 12 shots - four in each period - on Zach Fucale in a 4-0 loss to the Halifax Mooseheads on Saturday night at Harbour Station. Of those 12 shots, just four were considered dangerous by the league.

It wasn’t like the Dogs weren’t given chances. They had eight power plays in the game but didn’t do much on any of them. It was certainly a frustrating night for Saint John’s offense.

Of course, some credit has to be given to the Mooseheads who won their 10th straight game with this victory. Philippe Gadoury was unreal and recorded two goals. Connor Moynihan and Darcy Ashley added singles while Fucale made 12 saves for the shutout win.

The loss obviously didn’t help Saint John’s playoff chances. With Shawinigan losing in a shootout, the Dogs are now two points back of the final playoff spot with a game in-hand. Tomorrow’s game in Bathurst is huge.

GAMEDAY 64 - vs Mooseheads

A preview of tonight’s game between the Halifax Mooseheads and Saint John Sea Dogs…

When and where: Tonight at 7:00 PM AST, Harbour Station

TV/Radio: TELUS Webcast/News 88.9

Records: The Mooseheads are first in the Telus Maritimes Division and second overall in the QMJHL with a 43-18-0-3 record for 89 points. The Sea Dogs are sixth in the Telus Maritimes Division and 17th overall with a 19-39-2-3 record for 43 points.

Last games: The Mooseheads are coming off a 7-4 win over the Charlottetown Islanders on Thursday night. Andrew Ryan and Darcy Ashley each had two goals. The Sea Dogs are coming off a 5-4 loss to the Moncton Wildcats on Wednesday night. Matthew Highmore had two goals in that game.

2013-14 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs are 1-5-0-0 against the Mooseheads this season while Halifax is 5-1-0-0 against Saint John.

Last meeting: January 21st at Harbour Station where the Mooseheads defeated the Sea Dogs 5-2. Nikolaj Ehlers and Brent Andrews each had a goal and an assist.

Random stat: Nikolaj Ehlers has been ridiculous of late. He has an eight-game goal scoring streak going and has recorded 17 goals during that span – including three hat tricks.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Mooseheads: None

HFX notes: The Mooseheads have already won the division. They are five points back of Baie-Comeau with a game in-hand for first overall in the league… winners of nine straight games… Nikolaj Ehlers is fourth in the league in scoring with 97 points… Jonathan Drouin is fifth in league scoring with 96 points… Ehlers is fourth in goals with 47… Zach Fucale’s GAA of 2.30 is the best in the league… Ehlers leads all rookies in points, goals, and assists… MacKenzie Weegar is fourth in defensemen scoring with 53 points… lead the league in shorthanded goals with 23… averaging 4.18 goals per game, the second most in the league… Andrew Ryan and Drouin have assists in five straight games… Drouin has points in 10 straight games… the Halifax Mooster Club is also bringing a bus load of fans to the game.

SJ notes: This is Saint John’s final home game of the regular season… 2-7-1-0 in their last 10 games… one-point back of Shawinigan for the league’s final playoff spot with one game in-hand… Sebastien Auger still leads the league in saves and save percentage (.917)… Nathan Noel is 12th in rookie scoring with 37 points… averaging 37.13 shots against per game, the most in the league… Lukas Walter’s suspension is over.

Promotion: Today is Fan Appreciation Day at Harbour Station. $10,000 in prizes will be given away. It’s also the final home game of the regular season for the team’s trio of 20-year olds.