RECAP: Sea Dogs lose 3-2 (SO)

FINAL: Saint John 2, Moncton 3 (SO)

Kevin Chambers | SN Staff

MONCTON - The Moncton Wildcats managed to end the Saint John Sea Dogs' winning streak at three games with a 3-2 shootout victory on Sunday.

Goal scorers for the Sea Dogs were Matthew Highmore and Jakub Zboril. Alex’ D’Orio, making his third straight start, stopped 23 shots in the shootout loss.

Picking up goals for the Wildcats were Jeremy McKenna and Kelly Klima. Julian Galloway, who came in to relieve an injured Matthew Waite, stopped 12 of the 14 shots sent his way. Waite had stopped all 12 of the shots he faced prior to his injury.

To the notes...

• The Wildcats opened the scoring on a penalty shot at 18:14 of the opening period. D'Orio got a big chunk of the McKenna shot but was unable to keep the puck from squeaking through and giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. 
• Highmore tied the game with a power play marker at 3:18 of the second period on a backdoor feed from Mathieu Joseph.
• The Sea Dogs would take their first lead of the game at 4:51 of the second period when Zboril took a feed down low and slid a backhand deke past Galloway. 
• The Wildcats would even things back up at 2-2 at 11:08 of the middle frame with Kelly Klima finished off a two-on-one with Manuel Wiederer. 
• Kelly Klima scored the only goal of the shootout. 
• D’Orio suffered the first loss of his major junior career - but he has still not lost a game in regulation time. D’Orio has put up some impressive numbers through November, posting a 2.05 GAA while maintaining a .920 SV% through three games and a period. 
• Zboril was named the game’s first star and led the team in shots with six.
• The Sea Dogs thought they had a lead in the third period when Highmore scored. But after review, the goal was reversed due to an offside. 
• The loss ends Saint John's three-game winning streak. However, they still have points in five straight contests including an overtime and shootout loss. 
• After the Sea Dogs scored two goals on their first three shots on Galloway, he was perfect the rest of the way - including the shootout.
• Ian Smallwood was recalled before today today’s game and was in the lineup. 
• Luke Green was questionable but took the warm up and did play.
• Vincent Martineau was suspended for two games as the aggressor in his fight against Bathurst's Rodrigo Abols on Friday.

LINEUP
Dove-McFalls - Highmore - Joseph
Leblanc - Noel - Smallman
Imama - Pare - Reginato
Ward - Quinney - Lafreniere

Chabot - Zboril
Felixson - Michel
L. Green - Smallwood

D'Orio
Bishop

SCRATCHES
Joe Veleno (lower body), John Warren (upper body), Matt Green (upper body), Bailey Webster (upper body), Chase Stewart (illness), Alexandre Bernier (illness) and Vincent Martineau (suspension).

TURNING POINT
The Sea Dogs thought they had a lead in the third period but a goal scored by Matthew Highmore was disallowed.

SN THREE STARS
1. Jakub Zboril
2. Kelly Klima
3. Cam Askew

TWEET OF THE NIGHT
Can’t think of a more fitting winner.

The fans, players, staff. Everyone @monctonwildcats vs @SJSeaDogs support @SeaDogsDK #TeamDK #YouGotThis pic.twitter.com/P3ZCoEevHf

— Brent Daborn (@MWC1996) November 20, 2016

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs return to Harbour Station to take on the visiting Cape Breton Screaming Eagles this Wednesday night. Game time is 7 p.m.