SAINT JOHN - Alex D'Orio was terrific in the Saint John Sea Dogs' 2-1 overtime loss to the Charlottetown Islanders on Thursday night at Harbour Station.
The Sea Dogs netminder made 46 stops - including 18 in the second period alone - as he kept his team in the game. Saint John was heavily outshot all game long and were behind 1-0 until Joe Veleno tied it up late in the third, sending the match to overtime and getting the Sea Dogs their first point of the season.
Saint John's offence definitely needs some adjusting. Even though the Dogs juggled their lines for much of the game, nothing was working. The team has scored just three goals in its first three games of the season.
Charlottetown, who earned their first win of the year, had goals from veterans Adam Marsh and Keith Getson. Goaltender Matthew Welsh had a quiet night, stopping 20 shots in the win.
Ben Reid took a hooking penalty during his first shift of the season early in the opening frame. On the ensuing power play, a Saku Vesterinen point shot was deflected by Marsh and in, making it 1-0 Charlottetown at 3:23.
Saint John was awarded a four-minute power play at 13:26 with Marsh serving a high sticking penalty. The power play ended when Cole Reginato was called for interference at 15:30. During the four-on-four action, William Poirier had a breakaway but had the puck poke checked off his stick by Welsh.
D'Orio was excellent in the second period, making 18 saves. The Islanders hit a few posts in the frame but the Sea Dogs had the bounces go in their favour.
Saint John had an excellent opportunity to even things up 13:08 after Marcel Berube went after Radim Salda for some reason. Berube was given an aggressor major, sending Saint John to a five-minute power play. That lasted until 15:49 when the Sea Dogs were caught with too many men.
Despite the power play time, Saint John recorded just three shots on net in the second stanza.
Anthony Boucher had a good chance midway through the third but could not connect.
Veleno tied the game up at 1-1 at 14:06, beating Welsh on a scramble in the crease. The goal was Saint John's 16th shot of the game.
Veleno's goal would send the match into overtime, which featured some back-and-forth action but not a lot of great chances. Finally, at 4:38, Getson batted in a rebound to give the Islanders the extra point.
LINEUP
SCRATCHESHere is tonight's lineup for your #SJSeaDogs brought to you by @CantrburyDental #AlwaysWearYourMouthGuard pic.twitter.com/qHtnL3JkBh— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) September 28, 2017
The Sea Dogs were without forwards Landon Quinney (healthy) and Samuel Leblanc (upper body); defenceman Tyler Smith (healthy); and goaltender Matthew Williams (lower body).
NOTES: Ben Reid made his season debut... Pierre-Olivier Joseph, who was recently named Charlottetown's captain, made his season debut... there were a number of Saint John area natives playing in this game: Reid, Marcus Tesink, Drew Johnston, William Bower and Sam King... Charlottetown has yet to allow a power play goal this season... announced attendance was 3,257... Alex D'Orio's mask came off a couple times in this game, which seems to be a common occurrence this season... Veleno's goal was his first of the season... every team in the league now has at least a point.
NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs take on the Wildcats in Moncton tomorrow night at 7 p.m.
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