RECAP: Sea Dogs Win 3-2 (SO)

FINAL: Cape Breton 2, Saint John 3 (SO)

By Keven Chambers | SN Staff

SAINT JOHN – With a national television audience watching, the Saint John Sea Dogs put on a great show on Friday night at Harbour Station.

The Sea Dogs rebounded from Thursday’s shootout loss in Charlottetown with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Saint John has now picked up at least a point in 11 straight games.

Mathieu Joseph and Sam Povorozniouk scored for Saint John in regulation time while Joe Veleno netted the shootout winner. Marc-Antoine Turcotte, who has struggled of late, was fantastic, making 39 saves in the win.

Michael Joly scored both Cape Breton goals. Alexandre Belanger was also excellent in net, making 37 saves in the loss.

The Screaming Eagles got off to a quick start with Maxim Lazarev capitalizing on a turnover and feeding a pass to make it 1-0 at 1:36. With plenty of excellent scoring chances throughout the first period both goaltenders made some excellent saves, keeping the score 1-0.

The second period saw more of the Joly show as he buried his second of the game at 11:25, giving the Screaming Eagles a 2-0 lead. Later in the period it was Thomas Chabot hitting Joly and getting thrown out of the game after being assessed a five-minute major for checking from behind. The Sea Dogs were able to kill off the major to Chabot and Mathieu Joseph was able to pick up a late goal with just 39 seconds left in the period to make it a one goal game heading to the third.

After an early power play chance, Povorozniouk was able to wrist one past Belanger to knot the game at 2-2. Despite plenty of scoring chances from both sides, including a couple posts, that would be all the scoring in the regulation time.

The overtime period was wide open with multiple chances at both ends. Turcotte made a couple unbelievable saves - including an unreal glove save - to send the game to a shootout.

In the shootout:

Sam Povorozniouk scored, 1-0

Maxim Lazarev scored a beauty. 1-1

Mathieu Joseph lost the handle, no shot, 1-1

Michael Joly also lost the handle, no shot, 1-1

Nathan Noel stopped, 1-1

Evgeny Svechnikov stopped, 1-1

Joe Veleno goes forehand-backhand roof, 2-1

Phelix Martineau stopped by Turcotte, 2-1 Sea Dogs win

NOTES

• The Sea Dogs dressed the same lineup as they did on Thursday night in Charlottetown. The team was without Oliver Felixson (upper body), Bailey Webster (upper body), Adam Marsh (upper body) and Bokondji Imama (suspension – game 13/15).
• Sam Povorozniouk now has goals in six straight games.
• While Nathan Noel’s goal streak was snapped at six games, his point streak has now reached 11.
• Thomas Chabot received a checking from behind game misconduct in the second period.
• With Moncton losing, the Sea Dogs are now six points back of the Wildcats with three games on hand.
• Defenseman Matt Paul has been released upon his request. He will play junior ‘A.’
• The game was televised on Sportsnet. It was the first Sea Dogs game to air nationally since 2012.
• Noel is also now tied with Kevin Gagne for 11th in all time scoring as a member of the Sea Dogs.
• As noted on Sportsnet, this was Matt Murphy’s 298th game in the QMJHL.

TURNING POINT

Marc-Antoine Turcotte’s highlight reel save on Massimo Carozza to send the game to a shootout, where the Sea Dogs would eventually pull out the victory.

SN THREE STARS

Marc-Antoine Turcotte

Alexandre Belanger

Michael Joly

TWEET OF THE GAME

Because he caught the dabbin tender… we salute you.

Tendy from the Sea Dogs just hit a dab after a big shootout win lol

— Brandon Carr Sr. (@DownyD15) January 23, 2016

NEXT GAME

The Sea Dogs and Screaming Eagles meet again tonight at 7 p.m. at Harbour Station.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation