RECAP: Sea Dogs Win 5-1

FINAL: Baie-Comeau 1, Saint John 5

By Kevin Chambers | SN Staff

SAINT JOHN – The last-place Baie-Comeau Drakkar kept it close, but the Maritimes Division leading Saint John Sea Dogs were just too much on Saturday night at Harbour Station, skating away with a 5-1 victory.

After lots of back and forth action in the first period - including the Drakkar almost scoring an own goal - it was Adam Marsh scoring the game’s first goal at 15:13. That would be all the scoring in the first - despite the teams combining for a total of 24 shots.

In the second period of play, the back and forth action continued with the Sea Dogs carrying the majority of the play. Goaltender Antoine Samuel continued to hold the fort for the Drakkar, keeping it a 1-0 game through 40 minutes.

Early in the final stanza, Nathan Noel hit a streaking Spencer Smallman who got in behind the Drakkar defenders and beat Samuel, giving the Sea Dogs a 2-0 lead just 53 seconds in. The Drakkar would strike back with their first of the contest when Matt Jones buried a one time shot past Alex Bishop at the 6:55 mark. Saint John would bounce back though with Adam Marsh tipping his second of the game past Samuel at 15:13, making it 3-1 for the home side. That seemed to open the floodgates starting with Mathieu Joseph scoring a shorthanded marker at 17:41 followed quickly by Sam Povorozniouk at 18:10, making it a 5-1 final.

NOTES

• Scratches for the Sea Dogs: Bailey Webster, Ian Smallwood, Nico Blachman, Alexandre Bernier and Daniel Del Paggio.

• Irving handed out yo-yos at the door.

• Spencer Smallman and Thomas Chabot both returned to the lineup.

• Marc-Antoine Turcotte was dressed as Alex Bishop’s backup.

• Adam Marsh netted his 20^th and 21^st goals of the season.

• Nathan Noel extended his point streak to 18 games. Meanwhile, Matthew Highmore and Sam Povorozniouk both extended their point streaks to 13 games.

• Joe Veleno has two goals and five assists in his last six games.

• Mathieu Joseph now has goals in five straight home games.

• There was a minor delay in the second period due to some damaged ice in front of the Sea Dogs bench.

• Attendance was 4,241

TURNING POINT

Nathan Noel made a terrific stretch pass, hitting a streaking Spencer Smallman. The captain beat Drakkar goaltender Antoine Samuel and gave the Sea Dogs a 2-0 lead in the third period. The goal proved to be the game winner.

SN THREE STARS

Adam Marsh

Mathieu Joseph

Matthew Highmore

TWEET OF THE GAME

Gets a hockey puck from sea dogs .. and gets to sit next to his favorite goalie all game .. kids pumped pic.twitter.com/TyNqvSx4Mx

— Sumguyer ... (@trevor1whipple) February 14, 2016

NEXT GAME

The Sea Dogs’ next contest comes right back at Harbour Station tomorrow afternoon against the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. Game time 3 p.m.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation