RECAP: Sea Dogs lose 2-1

FINAL: Saint John 1, Bathurst 2

BATHURST - The Saint John Seas Dogs find themselves in a slump heading into a weekend doubleheader with the league's top team.

The Sea Dogs suffered their second straight loss on Thursday night, falling 2-1 to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan at the KC Irving Regional Centre. This was also the second straight game Saint John scored just one goal.

Like Saturday's 8-1 blowout loss to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, the Sea Dogs got off to a bad start. In the first period, the Dogs gave the Titan three power plays and were outshot 16-5. The good news for the Dogs was that they were down just 1-0 after one, but that goal proved to be pivotal in this low scoring contest.

Saint John did rebound from the rough first period, something they couldn't do on Saturday. The Dogs outshot the Titan in the second and managed to get on the board in the third, making it 2-1. But, despite some strong offensive pressure in final half of the third, Saint John would come no closer.

Kevin Gursoy scored Saint John's lone goal. Alex D'Orio was once again strong in net, making 37 saves in a third star performance.

Antoine Morand and Domenic Malatesta scored for the Titan. Reilly Pickard made 30 stops in the win.

Saint John will need to find their 'A' game again this weekend when they play the Moncton Wildcats twice as part of the QMJHL's Rivalry Week. The Wildcats are off to a great start and sit atop the league's standings with a 6-1-2 record.

LINEUP

Here is your Sea Dogs lineup for tonight's contest vs. the Titan brought to you by @CantrburyDental #AlwaysWearYourMouthGuard pic.twitter.com/MxKRW237if

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 12, 2017

SCRATCHES
The Sea Dogs were without goaltender Cody Porter; defenceman Nathan Larose; and forwards Isiah Campbell, Ben Reid, Landon Quinney and Alexandre Lafreniere. All were healthy scratches.

NOTES
Cole Reginato, Matt Green and Samuel Leblanc all returned from injuries... Leblanc made his season debut... Nicholas Deakin-Poot recorded his first QMJHL point - an assist... Kevin Gursoy has two goals in his past three games... Saint John had just one power play. Bathurst had five... announced attendance was just 1,374... the Sea Dogs haven't won a game in Bathurst in 20 years. That's not at all accurate, but it sure feels like it.

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs host the Moncton Wildcats at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Harbour Station.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation