RECAP: Sea Dogs Win 3-2

FINAL: Saint John 3, Charlottetown 2

By Kevin Chambers | SN Staff

CHARLOTTETOWN - The Saint John Sea Dogs handed the Charlottetown Islanders their first loss of the young QMJHL season in a very close contest Friday night, hanging on to a 3-2 win thanks to a late goal from Luke Green.

Saint John scored the loan goal of the opening frame when Mathieu Joseph took a feed from Samuel Dove-McFalls and tucked it in past a sprawling Daryl MacCallum. Also assisted on the goal was Bokondji Imama. The trio of players were all in their first game back from their respective NHL training camps.

The Islanders had a much stronger start to the second period scoring two quick goals. The first goal was by former Sea Dog Oliver Cooper and the second by rookie first round pick Shawn Boudrias. The two goals came just 56 seconds apart putting the Islanders ahead 2-1. The Sea Dogs would tie the game though before the end of the frame when Daniel Del Paggio broke up a pass between two Islander defenders and rushed in, scoring on a breakaway.

The final frame was tight checking for the most part with neither team taking many chances. The Sea Dogs did take the lead for good when Green skated in tight and jammed one in short side on MacCallum. Charlottetown would pull their netminder late but struggled to get the puck out of their own zone when the Sea Dogs fore checkers battled hard, hemming the Islanders in deep.

STATS

NOTES

• Spencer Smallman was named captain prior to the game. Alternate captains are Bokondji Imama, Samuel Dove McFalls, and Matthew Highmore
• Missing on defense were Thomas Chabot (NHL), Jakub Zboril (NHL), Jason Bell (suspended) and Adam Bateman (ankle injury). As a result, the Sea Dogs dressed four rookie defensemen.
• Vincent Martineau and Austin Clapham played their first QMJHL games.
• Julien Tessier played in his first game of the season since recovering from an illness.
• The Islanders first shot of the game took 11 minutes and 42 seconds when Dexter Weber flipped one on goal from the neutral zone
• In a rare sight, Nathan Noel had a scrap with Kameron Kielly with both landing some good shots.
• Daniel Del Paggio and Sam Povorozniouk lead the team in goals (3), assists (3) and points (6).

TURNING POINT

Luke Green was a huge factor in this game with such an inexperienced defense group. He really took charge and his goal with 9:22 left was the turning point of the game for the Sea Dogs.

SN PLAYERS OF THE GAME

1.  Luke Green

2.  Samuel Dove-McFalls

3.  Shawn Boudrias

TWEET OF THE GAME

This Turcotte kid has bailed out the Sea Dogs numerous times tonight. #GloveHand #SNBvsCHA

— Jonathan Dunphy (@Jonathan_Dunphy) September 25, 2015

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs have a day off on Saturday before travelling to Bathurst to take on the Titan on Sunday at 3 p.m. This will be the first matchup between the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks in the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation