The Chicoutimi Sagueneens scored the only goal of a four-round shootout on Saturday at Harbour Station, handing the Sea Dogs their sixth straight loss.
The loss continued a rough trend for the Sea Dogs, who lost their fifth consecutive one-goal game. This was the first one of those loses that ended in a shootout. Saint John played well at times and struggled at times, but, like their previous five loses, dropped a close, winnable game.
Cole Reginato, making his return to the lineup after a two-game absence, scored twice for the Sea Dogs. Bailey Webster added a solo marker. Alex D'Orio was excellent again, making 31 stops in the loss.
Chicoutimi had goals from Olivier Galipeau, German Rubtsov and Jeremy Diotte. Alexis Shank made 35 stops in the win.
The Sea Dogs had a strong start in the first period, showing some jump. The team was awarded a couple of early power plays and created some good pressure, but could not break open the scoring.
With Kelly Klima in the box, Kevin Gursoy was called for interference at 12:24, sending things to four-on-four. At 12:27 and following a Sags faceoff win, the puck found Galipeau at the line who blasted a shot past D'Orio, making it 1-0.
The goal seemed to give Chicoutimi some energy. At 17:05, Rubtsov fired a perfect shot past D'Orio to make it 2-0 Chicoutimi.
The Dogs had some chances throughout the period - including a shot that rolled off the post - but couldn't get the bounces to go in their favour.
Saint John got on the board at 4:30 of the second. A shot from the top of the circle produced a rebound that Reginato put in near the top of the crease, making it a 2-1 game.
Just 1:02 later, Webster fired a wrist shot from the line that beat Shank, tying things up at 2-2.
Saint John applied some good pressure in the final minutes of the period but could not connect. It was a strong frame by the Dogs and were deserving of a tie game, outshooting the Sags 14-8.
The Sea Dogs had a rough start to the third as the Sagueneens came out of the gate with a ton of offensive pressure. Saint John didn't record their first shot on net until the period was roughly eight minutes old.
Chicoutimi retook the lead at 14:09. A wraparound attempt went all the way to the point where Diotte fired a shot through some traffic and past D'Orio, giving the Sags a 3-2 advantage.
Saint John went to a power play 16:19. At 17:59, a pass from the line found a wide open Reginato who tied the game by the depositing the puck into an open net.
Chicoutimi applied some strong pressure in the final minute of the third - and that pressure carried over into overtime. At the 2:11 mark, the Sags nearly scored on a scramble but Dogs' defence was able to keep the puck out.
In the shootout, Samuel Houde scored what proved to be the lone goal in the fourth round. Daniel Hardie had Saint John's only chance to tie it, but was stopped.
LINEUP
SCRATCHESHere is tonight's lineup for your #SJSeaDogs brought to you by @CantrburyDental #AlwaysWearYourMouthGuard pic.twitter.com/NJQkTlU9IJ— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 21, 2017
The Sea Dogs made some significant lineup changes for this game. The team did not dress defenceman Marcus Tesink (healthy); and forwards Nick Deakin-Poot (healthy), Robbie Burt (healthy), Landon Quinney (healthy) and Ben Reid (healthy).
NOTES
Saint John did some major line juggling on Saturday. Isiah Campbell and Samuel Leblanc joined Joe Veleno on the top line while Ostap Safin moved to the fourth with William Poirier and Alexandre Lafreniere... it was a strange/different night all game long for Saint John's lineup. In overtime, Matt Green saw a lot of ice time and was the team's third shooter in the shootout. Samuel Leblanc also shot before Daniel Hardie, Ostap Safin (who did not shoot at all) and Cole Reginato (who had two goals - but did not take part in the shootout)... the Sea Dogs held a moment of silence for Gord Downie before the game... Webster's goal was his first of the season... the announced crowd was 4,015... according to the league website, hits were 22-9 in favour of Chicoutimi... Veleno now has 10 assists in 13 games... Safin and Alexis Girard each had two assists in this game.
NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs host the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Harbour Station.
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