RECAP: Sea Dogs lose 3-0

FINAL: Saint John 0, Bathurst 3

BATHURST - A Saint John Sea Dogs team missing several key players struggled on Wednesday night in Bathurst.

The Sea Dogs were outshot 39-21 and shutout 3-0 by the Titan at the KC Irving Regional Centre. Jordan Maher, Felix Boivin and Vladimir Kuznetsov scored for Bathurst while Anthony Dumont-Bouchard - making his Titan debut - made 21 saves in the victory.

On a normal night this would be an ugly loss. But this night was anything but normal for the Sea Dogs. The team was without several regulars due to injuries and the world juniors. Saint John recalled three players before the game to help fill some of the lineup holes.

If there were any positives for Saint John it was the play of Callum Booth. In his Sea Dogs debut, Booth looked very solid, making 36 saves in the loss.

Things seemingly aren't going to get a whole lot better for the Sea Dogs in the immediate future. Fortunately, their next contest is against a Moncton Wildcats team that has unloaded over the past couple weeks.

To the notes...

• Booth's first big save came early in the first, making a nice pad stop off Maher. He made several other key saves in an opening frame that saw the Sea Dogs outshot 15-9.
• Just 43 seconds into the second, Maher opened the scoring to give the Titan a 1-0 lead.
• The Titan made it 2-0 at 11:00. After Booth made a nice off Aaron Brisebois, Felix Boivin put in the rebound.
• Bathurst made it 3-0 at 16:43 when Kuznetsov put in the rebound of a Zachary Malatesta shot.
• The Sea Dogs were outshot 13-3 in the second period.
• Saint John is now 1-3 against Bathurst this season. The two will meet again on Saturday afternoon at Harbour Station.
• Matthew Highmore's nine-game point streak came to an end
• Before the game, the Sea Dogs announced that forward Ben Reid (St. Stephen Aces - MHL) and defencemen Ian Smallwood (Woodstock Slammers - MHL) and Simon Elsliger (Moncton Flyers - NB/PEIMMHL) had been recalled. 
• Elslinger, a fourth-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2016 draft, made his QMJHL debut.
• Former Sea Dogs forward Dawson Theede, who was held pointless with three shots and an even rating, was named first star.
• Bathurst's Aaron Brisebois picked up his first career QMJHL point, an assist, on Boivin's goal.
• Good crowd of 2,100 at the KC Irving Regional Centre for this game.

LINEUP

Tonight's projected #SJSeaDogs lineup in Bathurst. @cjboothy getting the start in net. #PortCityRise pic.twitter.com/Tgld4CfOkI

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) December 28, 2016

SCRATCHES

Mathieu Joseph (World juniors - Canada), Thomas Chabot (World juniors - Canada), Jakub Zboril (World juniors - Czech Republic), Nathan Noel (upper body), Matt Green (upper body), Vincent Martineau (flu) and Chase Stewart (upper body).

TURNING POINT

Bathurst's second period, which featured three goals and 13 shots.

SN THREE STARS

1. Jordan Maher

2. Callum Booth

3. Vladimir Kuznetsov

TWEET OF THE GAME

Happier times.

Underway in Bathurst.

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) December 28, 2016

NEXT GAME

The Sea Dogs are back in action on Friday night in Moncton. Game time is 7 p.m.