GAME 1 RECAP: Sea Dogs Win 4-1

FINAL: Bathurst 1, Saint John 4

By Kevin Chambers | SN Staff

SAINT JOHN – The Saint John Sea Dogs did not disappoint in their first game of the 2016 QMJHL playoffs, picking up a 4-1 victory over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan at Harbour Station.

Sam Povorozniouk had a hat trick to lead the Sea Dogs to a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven first round series. The victory ended a three-game losing streak Saint John carried into the post-season.

Both teams exchanged scoring chances for much of the opening period. The Sea Dogs would strike first though with Povorozniouk beating Titan goaltender Reilly Pickard on a redirection. Mathieu Joseph would put the Dogs up 2-0 just 44 seconds later, finishing off a mini two-on-one play that bounced off a Titan skate.

Much like the first period, the second started with scoring chances at both ends of the ice. The Sea Dogs would dent the twine with 4:56 left in the middle stanza when Povorozniouk scored his second of the game, deking around a pair of Titan players and ripping one past Pickard to up Saint John’s lead to 3-0.

The Titan would get on the board at the 3:35 mark of the third period. A quick goal, which the Titan desperately needed to try and get back into the hockey game, scored by Daniil Miromanov closed the gap to 3-1 with plenty of time to play. But that would be as close as Bathurst would come as Povorozniouk completed the hat trick at 19:11 by fighting off a check and depositing the puck into an empty cage.

NOTES

• The Sea Dogs were without defensemen Bailey Webster (upper body), Alex Bernier (upper body) and Luke Green (upper body) along with forwards Jordan King (healthy), Nico Blachman (healthy), Kallum Muirhead (healthy) and Cedric Pare (healthy).
• Scratches for the Titan were Marc Audet, Elijah Francis, Egor Popov, Francis Thibeault, Jason Bell and Jerome Gravel.
• Matthew Highmore, Mathieu Joseph and Thomas Chabot all returned from injuries. Spencer Smallman, who dressed last Saturday but did not play, was also back in action.
• Rookie Vincent Martineau, called up for last Saturday’s game, was in Friday’s lineup.
• Former Sea Dog Ryan Sparling dropped the ceremonial puck drop while sporting an old school Dogs jersey.
• Attendance was 4,542.

TURNING POINT

Two late first period goals just 44 seconds apart by Sam Povorozniouk and Mathieu Joseph – which included the game winner – ended up being the difference maker.

SN THREE STARS

Sam Povorozniouk

Mathieu Joseph

Marc-Antoine Turcotte

TWEET OF THE GAME

Atom Panthers having an awesome time at the Seadogs Playoff game! pic.twitter.com/JdS0ApldWV

— Jamie Henderson (@henderj74) March 25, 2016

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs and Titan are right back at it tomorrow night for game two of this best of seven series. Game time is 7 p.m. at Harbour Station.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation