RECAP: Sea Dogs win 5-3

FINAL: Baie-Comeau 3, Saint John 5

SAINT JOHN - It wasn't easy, but the Saint John Sea Dogs managed to edge one of the league's worst team's on Saturday night at Harbour Station.

Bokondji Imama had two goals while David Comeau, Simon Bourque and Mathieu Joseph also scored in Saint John's 5-3 victory over the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. Alex D'Orio made 18 saves in the win.

Saint John outshot the Drakkar for the entire game but never led by more than two goals. Even when the Dogs went up two, they still weren't able to pull away, keeping life in the Drakkar. The Sea Dogs also had trouble staying out of the box, giving Baie-Comeau seven power play chances - which saw two goals scored.

On a positive note, a win is a win. Fans should expect even the league's basement dwellers to bring their top game when they play a loaded Saint John team.

Simon Chevrier, Jordan Martel and Xavier Bouchard scored for Baie-Comeau. Antoine Samuel made 30 saves in the win.

To the notes...

• The Sea Dogs made it 1-0 on a power play at 2:13 when Imama wired a bullet of a wrist shot past Samuel.
• Imama struck again on a power play at 10:36. Nathan Noel fired a shot that was blocked but found its went to Imama, who then redirected it past Samuel to make it 2-0 Saint John.
• The Drakkar got on the board at 17:28 when Vincent Deslauriers fired a shot on net that went off Chevrier and in, making it 2-1.
• At 10:28 of the second, Comeau's first QMJHL goal made it 3-1 Sea Dogs. The defenceman fired a shot through a screen that beat Samuel upstairs.
• Spencer Smallman nearly made it 4-1 Sea Dogs five minutes into the third but hit the crossbar.
• Martel scored on a power play at 7:01, firing a knuckler (or something) from the slot and under the arm or D'Orio. That made it 3-2.
• Bourque got Saint John's two-goal lead back at 10:33 when he blasted a shot from the line past Samuel.
• The Drakkar quickly got back within one with another power play goal - this one from Bouchard - at 11:31.
• Saint John finally put the game away with 28 seconds left when Joseph beat Samuel, making it a 5-3 final.
• Joseph's goal extended his point streak to a franchise record setting 23 games. He passed Zack Phillips who held the previous record of 22.
• Joseph took two minor penalties in the first period while Thomas Chabot took two in the third.
• Imama's goals ended a four-game goalless drought. He also retook the team goal scoring lead with 29.
• Imama now has seven multi-goal games this season.
• Joseph is now tied for fifth all-time in Sea Dogs franchise goal scoring with 83.
• With two helpers, Matthew Highmore is now second in franchise assists with 145. He is just eight back of Jonathan Huberdeau for the franchise lead.
• The Sea Dogs have now won three straight games.
• Solid crowd of 4,465 in the house for this one.
• Saint John doesn't play at Harbour Station again until Feb.10.

LINEUP

Here's tonight's #SJSeaDogs lineup: pic.twitter.com/mSmVWD4dW9

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) January 21, 2017

SCRATCHES

The Sea Dogs were without Chase Stewart (upper body), Kyle Ward (lower body), Bailey Webster (lower body), John Warren (upper body), and Landon Quinney (upper body).

TURNING POINT

Mathieu Joseph's goal in the final minute of the third period. Until that point, it still felt like the Drakkar could tie it up.

SN THREE STARS

1. Bokondji Imama

2. Simon Chevrier

3. Thomas Chabot

TWEET OF THE GAME

This is my favourite gif in the QMJHL.

BOUCHARD!!!! 4-3 SeaDogs avec 8min29 à faire en 3e. Marqué en AN pic.twitter.com/cDDELQc2Rf

— LeVikingBC (@LeVikingBC) January 22, 2017

NEXT GAME

The Sea Dogs are in Moncton to face the Wildcats on Saturday at 7 p.m.