RECAP: Sea Dogs lose 3-2 (OT)

FINAL: Saint John 2, Val-d'Or 3 (OT)
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VAL-D'OR, Que. - The Saint John Sea Dogs dropped a crucial game on Friday night, falling 3-2 in overtime to the Val-d'Or Foreurs at the Air Creebec Centre.

While the Sea Dogs did earn a point, the loss puts the team six points back of the Foreurs for the league's final playoff spot. With 13 games remaining, and with Shawinigan sandwiched between the two teams, the Dogs are in tough to make the post-season.

Ostap Safin stayed hot on Friday, scoring both Saint John goals. The Sea Dogs had a much better offensive display than they have had in some time, outshooting their opponent 37-36 - which included 18 shots apiece in the third period.

Adam Cheezo scored in the first period and Nathan Hudgin connected at 15:18 of the third, putting Val-d'Or up 2-0. But two late regulation time goals from Safin - one a shorthanded marker at 17:53 and one with the goaltender pulled at 19:10 - evened things up at 2-2.

Ivan Kozlov scored just 29 seconds into overtime, giving Val-d'Or the extra point.

Mathieu Marquis made 35 stops in the win. Alex D'Orio made 33 saves in the loss.

The Foreurs ended an eight-game losing streak with the win. Saint John has now lost 10 straight road games.

LINEUP

Here is tonight's lineup for your #SJSeaDogs brought to you by @CantrburyDental #AlwaysWearYourMouthGuard pic.twitter.com/TjMF3Fs6Fm

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) February 17, 2018

SCRATCHES
The Sea Dogs were without forwards Cedric Pare (upper body), Cole Reginato (lower body), Matt Green (upper body), Landon Quinney (upper body) and Nicholas Deakin-Poot (upper body); and defenceman Brendan O’Reilly (lower body).

NOTES

Ostap Safin has scored in four straight games - scoring six goals during that span... Safin now has nine goals in his past 11 games... Matthew Williams will likely get the start on Saturday in Rouyn-Noranda after Alex D'Orio played the first two games of this road trip... Robbie Burt and Radim Salda each recorded two assists... this was the second and final meeting of the season between the Sea Dogs and Foreurs. Val-d'Or won both games.

NEXT GAME

The Sea Dogs wrap up this three-game road trip Saturday night in Rouyn-Noranda.