RECAP: Sea Dogs win 5-2

FINAL: Saint John 5, Charlottetown 2

CHARLOTTETOWN - The Saint John Sea Dogs recorded a statement win on Sunday at Eastlink Centre.

Bailey Webster, Mathieu Joseph, Nathan Noel, Cole Reginato and Samuel Dove-McFalls scored while Callum Booth made 24 saves in Saint John's 5-2 road victory over the Charlottetown Islanders.

It was the first meeting between the two teams since both loaded up during the QMJHL's trading period. Playing in front of a playoff-like crowd, the Sea Dogs registered a solid road win and extended their Maritimes Division lead to five points over the third-place Islanders.

The victory also extended Saint John's winning streak to five games.

Pascal Aquin and Filip Chlapik scored for Charlottetown. Matthew Welsh made 30 saves in the loss.

To the notes...

• The Islanders took an early 1-0 lead at 2:32 of the first period when Aquin made some dangles and beat Booth.
• Saint John tied the game at 14:29 when Webster fired a wrist shot from the point that went through some traffic and past Welsh, tying the game at 1-1.
• Charlottetown was applying lots of pressure in the opening half of the second period. At 7:02, Nathan Noel was called for a crosscheck, sending the Isles to the man advantage.
• But with Noel in the box, Joseph entered the offensive zone and made a beautiful move to get past an Islanders defender and slide the puck past Welsh at 8:31, giving Saint John a 2-1 lead.
• On a power play with 1:01 left in the second, Noel ripped a shot high glove side and past Welsh to give the Sea Dogs a 3-1 advantage.
• In the dying seconds of the middle frame, Booth made a big pad save off of a Daniel Sprong break.
• At 8:31 of the third, Spencer Smallamn sailed a perfect pass through the crease to Reginato who scored to make it 4-1 Saint John.
• Just 14 seconds later, Chlapik skated into the zone and went into the high slot, firing a hard wrist shot past Booth to get Charlottetown back within two.
• With 2:16 remaining and the Islanders net empty, Joseph found Dove-McFalls who potted his 10th of the season to make it a 5-2 final.
• Joseph extended his point streak to a franchise record 25 consecutive games.
• With five shorthanded goals, Joseph moves into a tie for the league lead.
• Webster's goal was just his second of the season and third of his career.
• Reginato has two goals and four assists in his past six games.
• Kyle Ward wore a full cage after having his face cut on Saturday in Moncton.
• Four buses of Sea Dogs fans (about 200 people) made the trip to Charlottetown.
• The Sea Dogs and Islanders meet three more times this season - twice in Charlottetown and once in Saint John.

LINEUP

Sea Dogs lineup for today's contest against the Charlottetown Islanders #PortCityRise pic.twitter.com/cABvZy7ntx

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) January 29, 2017

SCRATCHES
The Sea Dogs were without David Comeau (healthy), Samuel Leblanc (healthy), Alex D'Orio (CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game), John Warren (upper body), Landon Quinney (upper body) and Chase Stewart (upper body).

TURNING POINT
Mathieu Joseph's shorthanded goal in the second period gave Saint John their first lead of the game while putting an end to some extended Charlottetown offensive pressure. The Sea Dogs never trailed again.

SN THREE STARS
1. Callum Booth
2. Cole Reginato
3. Samuel Dove-McFalls

TWEET OF THE GAME

Is this what it feels like to be at Harbour Station, @SJSeaDogs? #WhatAFanBase pic.twitter.com/m8NA2uOE9O

— Jonathan Dunphy (@Jonathan_Dunphy) January 29, 2017

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs travel to Halifax to take on the Mooseheads on Friday at 7 p.m.