RECAP: Sea Dogs win 3-1

FINAL: Bathurst 1, Saint John 3

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs had the last laugh in their regular season series with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

Spencer Smallman, Samuel Dove-McFalls and Simon Bourque scored in Saint John's 3-1 victory over the Titan on Tuesday at Harbour Station. It was the finale of a back-and-forth, exciting and sometimes odd season series between the two.

With Tuesday's victory, Saint John will finish the regular season with a 4-4-1-0 record against Bathurst.

Callum Booth had a strong night in the Sea Dogs net, making 24 saves in the win.

Vladimir Kuznetsov scored for the Titan. Anthony Dumont-Bouchard made 38 saves in the loss.

To the notes...

• Saint John opened the scoring at 8:51 of the first. Noel was in the corner and made a great feed to an open Smallman in front.
• Booth was terrific in net in the opening frame, making a few big stops.
• The Titan tied it at 1-1 at 2:17 of the second. Christophe Boivin threw it towards the net and Kuznetsov finished it off, tying the match.
• Saint John took a 2-1 lead at 12:46. The puck came hard off the back boards and went to Dove-McFalls along the goal line. The Saint John forward threw the puck on net where it was pushed in by a sliding Luc Deschenes.
• On a power play at 19:08, Dove-McFalls was along the back boards and found a wide open Bourque in front of the net. The Dogs defenceman beat Dumont-Bouchard with a quick wrist shot, making it 3-1 Saint John.
• Dove-McFalls scored late in the third period but the goal was called off due to a whistle or intent to whistle or something.
• Nathan Noel now has points in eight of his past nine games.
• Former Sea Dogs forward Dawson Theede had five hits in the first period.
• Sea Dogs forward Matt Green returned from an injury.
• According to HockeyFights.com, Bokondji Imama's second period fight against Deschenes was just his fourth tilt of the season. Two have been against Bathurst while the other two have been against Cape Breton.
• Solid Tuesday night crowd of 4,360.
• This was Bathurst's first regulation time loss in 10 games. Meanwhile, Saint John has not lost in regulation time in 11 straight games.

LINEUP

Here's a look at tonight's #SJSeaDogs lineup (7 p.m. vs Titan), brought to you by @CantrburyDental. #AlwaysWearYourMouthguard pic.twitter.com/0t2aK998wz

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) March 7, 2017

SCRATCHES
The Sea Dogs were without Kyle Ward (suspension), Oliver Felixson (upper body), John Warren (upper body), Landon Quinney and David Comeau.

TURNING POINT
The Sea Dogs finally cashing in on a power play late in the third period. Simon Bourque's goal at 19:08 of the second gave the Dogs some insurance and momentum.

SN THREE STARS
1. Callum Booth
2. Samuel Dove-McFalls
3. Christophe Boivin

TWEET OF THE GAME
RIP to a legend.

Very nice tribute to legendary broadcaster Tom Young at tonight's Sea Dogs game. RIP Tom.

— HamptonToday (@HamptonToday) March 7, 2017

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs host the Charlottetown Islanders on Friday night at 7 p.m. Four buses of Islanders fans are making the trip.