Sunday, March 13, 2016

RECAP: Sea Dogs Win 4-1

FINAL: Moncton 1, Saint John 4
By Kevin Chambers | SN Staff

SAINT JOHN – With one last chance to clinch a division title on home ice - this time against the division and provincial rival Moncton Wildcats – the Saint John Sea Dogs did just that.

With a 4-1 victory the Wildcats on Saturday night at Harbour Station, the Sea Dogs will finish first in the Maritimes Division and will be seeded either second or third overall for the playoffs.

Much like last night’s game, the Sea Dogs got off to a great start thanks to the same player scoring. Bokondji Imama put a wrist shot past Keven Bouchard to give the Dogs an early 1-0 lead at 2:43 of the opening frame.  

The second period started similar to the first with a quick goal off the stick of Sam Povorozniouk at 1:16. The Sea Dogs would strike again just 55 seconds later when Thomas Chabot was allowed to skate in and rip a shot past Bouchard to make it 3-0. The third goal would mark the end of the night for Bouchard as former Sea Dog Blade Mann-Dixon took over between the pipes. 

The ‘Cats would get on the board next with Cameron Askew sliding one around a downed Alex Bishop, making it a 3-1 game at 7:15. Despite a late five-on-three power play chance for the Sea Dogs that would be all the scoring in the second.

The final frame had plenty of scoring chances at both ends of the ice. The Sea Dogs were able to take advantage of a Wildcats turnover at 10:43 when Spencer Smallman made a nice dish to Nathan Noel to give the Dogs a 4-1 advantage. That would be all the Dogs would need as they held on to win the contest and clinch the division.

NOTES
  • Scratches for the Sea Dogs were Mathieu Joseph (upper body), Adam Marsh (upper body), Bailey Webster (upper body) and Alex Bernier (upper body).
  • Scratches for the Wildcats were Kevin Klima, Austin Kosack, and Will Bower.
  • The game was sold out - including all 200 standing room tickets – for a total attendance of 6,438. It was Saint John’s first packed house since 2013.
  • Overage players Sam Povorozniouk, Matt Murphy and Marc-Antoine Turcotte were all recognized before the game. Their parents were all in the building to present jerseys to them.
  • This was Saint John’s fourth division championship and first since 2012.

TURNING POINT
The Sea Dogs scoring two quick goals to start the second period off the sticks of Sam Povorozniouk and Thomas Chabot, which gave the Sea Dogs a 3-0 lead at that point in the contest.

SN THREE STARS
Sam Povorozniouk
Boko Imama
Alex Bishop

TWEET OF THE GAME
NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs begin their final week of the regular season on Tuesday in Bathurst where they’ll take on the Titan at 7 p.m.

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