The Saint John Sea Dogs and Charlottetown Islanders, who entered the game as the league's two worst offensive teams (based on average goals per game), skated to a 5-5 tie through 65 minutes of hockey. The Islanders picked up the 6-5 victory thanks to Daniel Hardie's shootout goal.
The Islanders led 4-1 after 40 minutes and, given Saint John's third period struggles this season (they entered the game with five third period goals all year), looked like they would cruise to victory. But two quick goals by the Sea Dogs early in the third turned the tides. The Isles restored their two-goal lead, only to have it evaporate by a confident looking Saint John team.
The Sea Dogs had a number of chances to win the game in overtime, but Islanders goaltender Matthew Welsh made several tremendous saves. Welsh made 18 stops in the win (although the shot clock in the building had a lot more shots recorded by both teams).
Hunter Drew, Liam Peyton, Kevin Gursoy, Derek Gentile and Nikita Alexandrov all scored for Charlottetown. Gentile also had a pair of assists.
Saint John had a pair of goals from Robbie Burt and singles from Josh Lawrence, Charlie DesRoches and William Poirier. Alex D'Orio made 43 stops in the loss.
Charlottetown opened the scoring on a nice passing play at 6:29. Hardie fed a streaking Drew who faked out D'Orio and tossed a backhand shot into a wide open net to give the home side a 1-0 advantage.
Saint John went to the power play at 10:01. At 11:23, the Sea Dogs scored their first road power play goal of the season when Burt was able to jam the puck past Welsh, tying the game at 1-1.
The Islanders retook the lead at 16:42. After D'Orio was unable to glove a Derek Gentile shot, the puck rolled to the side of the crease where Peyton pushed it across the goal line, making it 2-1 Isles after 20 minutes.
Saint John went on a 55-second five-on-three power play at 8:11 of the second period. Despite maintaining some solid offensive zone puck possession, the Dogs were unable to record a shot.
Moments after failing to score on a man advantage of their own, the Islanders struck to take a 3-1 lead. At 15:02, Gursoy cut towards the goal and fired a low wrist shot past D'Orio, giving the former Dog his second of the year.
On a power play at 18:40, Getson put in a rebound to give Charlottetown a commanding 4-1 lead after 40 minutes. Shots were 21-4 in favour of the Isles in the second period.
Saint John got on the board just 1:06 into the third. Lawrence got the puck in the neutral zone and sped past the Islanders defense, ultimately beating Welsh with a wrist shot five-hole to make it a two-goal game. Just 21 seconds later, Burt batted down a Yohan Plamondon rebound and beat Welsh, making it a 4-3 game just like that.
With 6:53 remaining, Alexandrov was left all alone at the side of the net. Brett Budgell fed him with a perfect pass to give the Isles a 5-3 advantage. Saint John quickly responded though with DesRoches beating Welsh with a wrist shot from inside the circle on a power play at 14:18, making it 5-4.
At 16:03, the Sea Dogs tied the game at 5-5 as Poirer, parked in front, put a rebound past Welsh to tie the game up for first time since the first period.
Saint John had the better of the chances in overtime, even drawing a penalty on one. The Dogs were able to setup several plays but Welsh shut the door each time. Shots were officially 1-1, but the Dogs definitely had more than that.
In the shootout, Hardie was the only player that was able to score, beating D'Orio five-hole. After Welsh stopped Filip Prikryl, Hardie's goal proved to be the winner.
LINEUP
NOTES: The Islanders wore their black third jerseys... Saint John scored just their third and fourth power play goals of the season... PEI native Charlie DesRoches was placed in the Sea Dogs starting lineup... Josh Lawrence ended an eight-game pointless streak... there was a scary moment in the first period when Sullivan Sparkes took a slap shot to the side of the head from one of his teammates. He returned for the second period... the league's two worst power plays both had goals in this game... Kevin Gursoy has two goals this season - and both of them have come against his former team... Gursoy finished the night with a goal and four shots while Daniel Hardie had an assist and a shootout goal... Derek Gentile, who has scored 22 or more goals in each of the past two seasons, finally scored his first of the season... Robbie Burt scored his first goal since opening night. He now has six points in his past five games... the Sea Dogs fell to 0-4 on the road this season... the Sea Dogs are now 0-0-2-1 in games that go to extra time.
NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
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