GAME 4 RECAP: Sea Dogs Lose 4-3 (OT)

FINAL: Shawinigan 4, Saint John 3 (OT)

By Kevin Chambers & Jamie Tozer | SN Staff

SAINT JOHN – Danny Moynihan’s goal 46 seconds into overtime has pushed the Saint John Sea Dogs to the brink of elimination.

Moynihan’s goal gave the Shawinigan Cataractes a 4-3 victory and a 3-1 series lead heading into Friday’s game five at Centre Gervais Auto. Gabriel Sylvestre, Anthony Beauvillier and Dmytro Timashov scored also scored for Shawinigan on Wednesday night at Harbour Station. Philippe Cadorette made 36 saves in the win.

Sam Povorozniouk, Samuel Dove-McFalls and Joe Veleno scored for Saint John. Alex Bishop, who got the start in goal for the Sea Dogs, made 20 stops in the loss.

Making his first career playoff start, Bishop did well keeping the dangerous Cataractes offense at bay early on. The Sea Dogs would get on the board first when the league’s leading scorer, Povorozniouk, slid a shot past Cadorette to make it 1-0 on a power play at 18:30.

Shawinigan would get on the board at 15:13 of the second period when a point shot from Sylvestre found it’s way through some heavy traffic in front of Bishop, knotting the game at 1-1. The Cataractes would take the lead at the nine-minute minute when a wrist shot from Beauvillier beat Bishop, giving the visitors their first lead of the contest. 

The Sea Dogs would even the game with another late period goal, this time by Dove-McFalls. The centre jumped on a loose puck in the slot and fired it past Cadorette, tying the game at 2-2 at 17:04. That’s how the middle frame would end, setting the stage for another exciting third period.

Controversy stuck early in the third when it appeared the Sea Dogs had scored - which was the call on the ice. However, Matthew Highmore was shoved into Cadorette and it was later ruled “incidental contact” had been made and the goal was disallowed.

Highmore's no goal pic.twitter.com/o7FobFZAsX

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) April 27, 2016

Moments after the disallowed goal at 2:13, the Cataractes would take the lead when Timashov beat Bishop to give the Cataractes a 3-2 edge.

Saint John would not go away though and they continued to press. At 5:31, got the puck in front where Veleno was able to direct one past Cadorette to tie the game up at 3-3. That would set the stage for overtime.

46 seconds into extra time, Moynihan scored to give Shawinigan the win.

NOTES

• Scratches for the Sea Dogs were Mathieu Joseph, Adam Marsh, Nico Blachman, Alexandre Bernier, Vincent Martineau, Bokondji Imama, Gabrial Bettez, Alex Lafreniere and Ian Smallwood.
• Scratches for the Cataractes were Louis-Philip Fortin, Charles Taillon, Tommy Lemay and Simon Benoit.
• Dennis Yan returned to the Shawinigan lineup after serving a one-game suspension.
• Alex Bishop made his first career playoff start. It was his first start since March 19
• The Sea Dogs called up Ryan Chiasson from MHL Dieppe before the game.
• The Sea Dogs went back to their black third jerseys.

TURNING POINT

Matthew Highmore’s no-goal call, followed by Dmytro Timashov’s goal almost immediately after, really changed the feel of this game.

SN THREE STARS

Danny Moynihan

Joe Veleno

Anthony Beauvillier

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs and Cataractes will travel to Shawinigan for Game 5, which will take place Friday at 8:30 p.m.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation