RECAP: Sea Dogs lose 2-1 (OT)

FINAL: Gatineau 2, Saint John 1 (OT)

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs played one of their better games of the season on Thursday night at Harbour Station but were unable to skate away with a victory.

The Sea Dogs dropped a close and hard fought 2-1 overtime contest to the Gatineau Olympiques. Maxim Trepanier scored at 2:31 of overtime to give the visitors the extra point.

Charlie DesRoches scored his first QMJHL goal in the loss. Alex D'Orio looked like the Alex D'Orio of old, making 27 stops in the loss. He was spectacular at times - which was good to see after a rough start to the season.

Saint John got into some penalty trouble once again. Both Robbie Burt and Anthony Boucher - who both play on the team's second line - were ejected for illegal hits. Saint John's penalty kill was pretty good, at least.

Creed Jones made 14 stops in the win while Pier-Olivier Lacombe scored in regulation time. The Olympiques are now 4-0 on the road this season.

Shots were 7-7 in a scoreless first period. Burt was given a five-minute major and game misconduct for a board on Manox Landry at 6:22 of the first period. The Dogs had a solid penalty kill, limiting the Olympiques to very few shots. Saint John had a pretty good opening frame - probably their best this season.

Lacombe opened the scoring at 5:32 of the second period. On a power play, the puck came back to Lacombe in the slot who wired a wrist shot past D'Orio to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.

Saint John tied the game during some four-on-four play at 11:11. Brendan Sibley threaded the puck ahead to DesRoches who streaked in, firing a quick shot past Jones to knot the game at 1-1.

1:29 into the third, Boucher was given a five-minute major and game misconduct for a board on Iaroslav Likhachev. That started a parade to the penalty box for both teams.

Saint John was outshot 13-3 in the third period - but the Sea Dogs did have a few quality scoring chances.

D'Orio was excellent early on in overtime, making a couple fantastic saves to keep the game tied. At 2:31, Trepanier ended the game with his fourth goal of the season.

LINEUP

Here's a look at tonight's #SJSeaDogs lineup, presented by @CantrburyDental. #AlwaysWearYourMouthguard

🆚: @LesOlympiques
⏰: 7 p.m.
📍: Harbour Station
📻: https://t.co/T6GTCvkJzg
💻: QMJHL Live pic.twitter.com/Di59fccwfC

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 4, 2018

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Nicholas Deakin-Poot, Christian Clark, and Jeremie Jacob; and defensemen Nathan Larose and Tyler Higgins.

In a pre-game interview, Sea Dogs head coach Josh Dixon confirmed Deakin-Poot suffered a concussion last week in Charlottetown.

HIGHLIGHTS


NOTES: William Poirier returned to the Sea Dogs lineup after serving a one-game suspension on Saturday... defenseman Brendan Sibley made his season debut. He did not take part in training camp or pre-season due to a lower body injury... the Sea Dogs swept the three stars... Anthony Boucher had four of Saint John's 15 shots... the Sea Dogs still have not scored first in a game nor have they scored a power play goal this season.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs are in Bathurst tomorrow to take on the Titan at 7 p.m.