RECAP: Sea Dogs Lose 2-1

FINAL: Moncton 2, Saint John 1

By Kevin Chambers | SN Staff

SAINT JOHN - The Sea Dogs closed out their opening weekend with a disappointing 2-1 loss to their provincial rival, the Moncton Wildcats, on Sunday afternoon at Harbour Station.

The Wildcats carried much of the play in the first period and eventually opened the scoring on a beautiful passing play capped off by Will Smith. Had it not been for outstanding goaltending by Marc-Antoine Turcotte, Moncton could have struck more than once.

The Sea Dogs struck early in the second period on short breakaway by Sam Povorozniouk who continued his hot start and tied the game at one a piece. Much of the second period was hemmed up in the neutral zone although Turcotte, again, made some excellent saves.

The third period was very similar to the middle frame with a lot of tight checking neutral zone play. Kevin Klima eventually got a generous bounce and buried the game winner with just 4:14 left on the clock on what appeared to be a shot that was redirected in off a Sea Dog player, giving Moncton a 2-1 victory.

NOTES

• Samuel Dove-McFalls left early this morning for NHL training camp with the Philadelphia Flyers.
• Matthew Highmore was the captain for the Sea Dogs.
• Ryan Kenny played his first game of the season filling in for Dove-McFalls.
• Joe Veleno started the game at center on a line with Sam Povorozniouk and Daniel Del Paggio for the second consecutive game.
• Povorozniouk is on pace for 102 goals in his first QMJHL season.
• Grant Sonier made an appearance at Harbour Station today.
• Attendance - 2,693
• Zachary Malatesta picked up the first embellishment penalty at Harbour Station.
• Povorozniouk is tied for first in goals scored with three in two games.
• Veleno has one goal but still leads the team in plus/minus with a +4 rating after two games.

STATS

HIT OF THE GAME

I think this one is a tie between Dawson Theede and Adam Bateman. Both had a couple beauties.

TURNING POINT

Moncton scoring with just 4:14 left in the third period. Despite pulling Turcotte, the Sea Dogs seemed tired and couldn’t get the equalizer.

SN PLAYERS OF THE GAME

1. Will Smith

2. Sam Povorozniouk

3. Marc-Antoine Turcotte

TWEET OF THE GAME

Starting line-up @monctonwildcats. Turcotte gets start, coming off strong performance last night. Puck drop in 2 hrs. pic.twitter.com/gWviUdxiLS

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) September 13, 2015

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs travel to Sydney, Nova Scotia to take on the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles on Friday, September 18 at 7 p.m. This will be Cape Breton’s home opener so expect a delayed start to that game.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation