RECAP: Sea Dogs lose 4-0

FINAL: Saint John 0, Charlottetown 4

CHARLOTTETOWN - The Saint John Sea Dogs hit some bumps during their first road game of the season.

The Sea Dogs struggled to generate quality scoring chances in a 4-0 loss to the Charlottetown Islanders on Wednesday night at Eastlink Centre.

Saint John once again had a rough first period, getting outshot 19-9 and finding themselves down 2-0 once again. Like the first two games of the season, the Sea Dogs had a better second and third - but this time couldn't get out of the hole. The club had a hard time maintaining consistent offensive zone pressure throughout the night, recording 15 dangerous shots.

Saint John's power play has also been an early season issue. The team went 0/5 on Wednesday and are now 0/10 through three games.

A couple former Sea Dogs had good nights against their old team. Kevin Gursoy had a goal and an assist while Daniel Hardie recorded a helper. Keith Getson, Thomas Casey and Zachary Beauregard also scored. Matthew Welsh made 32 saves in the win.

Alex D'Orio made 37 stops in the loss.

The Islanders were pressing hard in the first period and were finally rewarded for their efforts at 3:44. Following a Charlottetown faceoff win, Getson had the puck at the circle and wired it top corner on D'Orio, giving Charlottetown a 1-0 advantage.

Saint John was awarded a five-minute power play at 7:23 when Hunter Drew was given a major penalty and game misconduct for a check to the head on Nicholas Deakin-Poot. Saint John couldn't get much going on the power play though - which ended up being only three minutes following a Nathan Larose penalty.

Charlottetown struck again at 16:15. After D'Orio allowed a big rebound, Casey collected the loose puck and put it in, giving the Isles a 2-0 advantage after one period.

The Islanders took a 3-0 lead at 3:11 of the second. On a power play, Gursoy completed a nice passing play and had a wide open net to extend Charlottetown's lead.

Charlottetown had a four-minute man advantage later in the period when Maxim Cajkovic was given a double minor for high sticking. The Isles pressed but could not connect.

The Islanders scored again 7:30 into the third but the goal was immediately called off due to the shot being redirected in by a high stick.

After the Sea Dogs were not able to score on a power play, the Islanders came up ice on a three-on-one. Beauregard finished off the play at 11:16, making it 4-0 in favour of the hosts.

LINEUP

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Christian Clark (injury), Luke Wilson (healthy) and Aiden MacIntosh (healthy); along with defenceman Brendan Sibley (healthy/injured). Sibley took warm up but did not play. He did not take part in the team's training camp or pre-season due to an injury suffered during the summer.

NOTES: PEI native Charlie DesRoches was placed in Saint John's starting lineup... Charlottetown's Hunter Drew played his first game of the season after returning from Anaheim Ducks camp. His return was short lived thanks to his game misconduct in the first period... Nicholas Deakin-Poot did not return to the game after taking the hit from Drew, which forced the Dogs to juggle some of their lines... Saint John has yet to score first in a game this season... former Sea Dogs forwards Daniel Hardie and Kevin Gursoy were both in Charlottetown's lineup... the Sea Dogs have now been outscored 6-0 in first periods... Josh Lawrence took a puck to the face late in the third and went off to the room. There was no blood, but he was definitely in some discomfort... Matthew Welsh recorded his ninth career shutout, setting an Islanders/Rocket franchise record.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs take on the Wildcats in Moncton on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.