RECAP: Sea Dogs Win 3-2

FINAL: Saint John 3, Gatineau 2

By Kevin Chambers | SN Staff

GATINEAU - The Sea Dogs played their third game in three days as part of their road trip through Quebec against the Gatineau Olympiques on Sunday afternoon, earning a 3-2 victory.

Saint John got off to a great start in this game when Adam Marsh broke in and powered a wrist shot past Bo Taylor at 2:44. Later in the frame, Bokondji Imama and Jonathon Masters would drop the gloves in a fairly even tilt. The Sea Dogs would hold on to the lead after the first period despite being outshot 16-5.

The second period saw the Sea Dogs take advantage of a power play opportunity at 6:55 and doubled their lead to 2-0. Nathan Noel took a one-time slap shot at a yawning cage, beating a fallen Taylor for his first goal of the season. The Olympiques would draw within one before the end of the period when Yan Pavel Laplante scored a shorthanded goal to make it a 2-1 game at 17:57.

The Sea Dogs regained their two-goal lead at the 6:50 mark of the final frame when Matthew Highmore pulled off a nice deke move on Taylor to put the Sea Dogs out in front 3-1. Later in the period at 12:04, Laplante would strike for the Olympiques again netting his second of the game and closing the gap to 3-2. That’s as close as the Olympiques would come though as the Sea Dogs hung on for the 3-2 victory and secured Alex Bishop his first win of the season.

STATS

NOTES

• Sea Dogs played their third game in three days. They finished the road trip 2-1-0-0.
• Nathan Noel and Jakub Zboril played their first games since being suspended for two games last Saturday. Meanwhile, Luke Green served the final game of his three game suspension.
• Scratches for Saint John were Kyle Ward (hand), Samuel Dove-McFalls (knee), Luke Green (suspension), and Julien Tessier (still believe he’s being eased back into action).
• Nathan Noel started the game on a line with Dawson Theede & Jason Bell.
• Adam Marsh recorded the 50th point of his QMJHL career.
• Alex Bishop got his third start of the season.
• Oliver Felixson left the game did not return - Bell dropped back from his new forward position to play defense.
• Yan Pavel Laplante scored his league leading fourth shorthanded marker and second in two games against Saint John.

TURNING POINT

When Matthew Highmore and Mathieu Joseph broke in two on none in the third period. Highmore pulled slightly ahead of Joseph and pulled off a nice deke move to beat Bo Taylor to give the Sea Dogs a 3-1 lead.

HIT OF THE GAME

Austin Clapham lowered the boom on Nashville Predators draft pick Yakov Trenin when he tried to cut across the ice just inside the Sea Dogs blue line.

SN THREE STARS

1. Alex Bishop

2. Yan Pavel Laplante

3. Nathan Noel

TWEET OF THE GAME

Former Sea Dogs front office member and current Premium Sales Manager for the Ottawa Senators, Kyle Ferguson, took in the game.

3-2 victory for the @SJSeaDogs vs. Gatineau tonight. #QMJHL pic.twitter.com/CX85hPv6Xg

— Kyle Ferguson (@kjferg87) October 18, 2015

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs return to Harbour Station on Thursday when they take on the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on “Faith and Family Night.” Note that this is an 8 p.m. start in order to accommodate Rogers TV.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation