RECAP: Sea Dogs win 4-2

FINAL: Saint John 4, Chicoutimi 2

Kevin Chambers | SN Staff

CHICOUTIMI, Que. – The Saint John Sea Dogs improved to 2-0 on their Quebec road trip with a 4-2 victory over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens on Saturday.

Picking up goals for the Sea Dogs were Matthew Highmore (two), Bokondji Imama and Joe Veleno. Callum Booth picked up the win, stopping 17 shots.

Answering for the Sags were Vincent Tremblay-Lapalme and Nicolas Roy. Julio Billia settled in after a tough first period, managing to make 17 saves.

To the notes…

• The Sea Dogs opened the scoring just 1:25 into the game when Imama fired a wrist shot past Billia to make it 1-0.
• The Sagueneens would reply a short time after at 2:55 when Tremblay-Lapalme threw a shot on net that found it’s way past Booth, evening things at a goal a piece.
• Veleno would regain the lead for the Sea Dogs at 13:33 when he tipped a Bailey Webster point shot past Billia to make it 2-1 Dogs.
• Saint John extended their lead to 3-1 when Highmore banged a loose puck past Billia at 19:36, sending the Dogs to the first intermission with a two-goal cushion.
• There were no goals in the second period - although Booth did make a huge save off a penalty shot attempt by Tremblay-Lapalme, flashing some leather on the stop.
• Roy got the Sags back within a goal at 17:23 after he picked the pocket of Veleno and fired a shot past Booth, making it 3-2.
• Highmore would seal the deal for the Sea Dogs at 19:38. After taking a feed from Samuel Dove-McFalls he tapped the puck into the yawning empty cage to secure the 4-2 victory.
• Highmore is now in sole possession of fifth overall in Sea Dogs franchise goal scoring with 86. 
• The Sags pulled Billia during a power play chance with about seven minutes to play, only to return him to the team’s net on the next line change - on the fly.
• The final shots on goal in the game were just 20-19 in favour of Saint John. Both teams had more shots in the third period then their first two periods combined.
• Both teams scored on their first shots of the game.
• Irate over a non call on Thomas Chabot, Sagueneens head coach Yanick Jean stood on the dasher board to yell at the officials.
• A couple key players missing for the Sags in this game as German Rubtsov (injured) and Joey Ratelle (suspension) missed this contest.
• Nathan Noel returned after serving a one-game suspension but Cole Reginato missed this one as the result of an automatic suspension for a staged fight in last night’s contest.

LINEUP

Here is your Sea Dogs lineup for today vs. @SagueneensLHJMQ brought to you by @CanterDental  #AlwaysWearYourMouthGuard pic.twitter.com/CLC2jZLl7n

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) February 18, 2017

SCRATCHES
The Sea Dogs were without Julien Gauthier (upper body), Cole Reginato (suspension), Landon Quinney (upper body), and John Warren (upper body).

Gauthier, who was listed in the team's starting lineup, was a late scratch due to a minor injury that is not believed to be serious.

TURNING POINT
Matthew Highmore scoring with just 24 seconds left in the first period to give the Sea Dogs a two-goal cushion entering the second and third periods.

SN PLAYERS OF THE GAME
1. Bokondji Imama
2. Matthew Highmore
3. Nicolas Roy

TWEET OF THE GAME

Got his favourite player's number shaved in today @MHighmore15 @SJSeaDogs pic.twitter.com/M2GciUlkdy

— Mike Blacquier (@mikeblacquier) February 18, 2017

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs round out their three-in-three road trip through Quebec with a stop in Baie-Comeau tomorrow. Game time is 5 p.m.