RECAP: Sea Dogs lose 5-3

FINAL: Baie-Comeau 5, Saint John 3

SAINT JOHN - Alex D'Orio had to be sharp in his return to Harbour Station.

The Saint John Sea Dogs gave D'Orio's Baie-Comeau Drakkar - who are one of the top teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League right now - a good run, falling 5-3 on Friday night at Harbour Station.

D'Orio made 17 saves against his old club in his first appearance at Harbour Station since being dealt to the Drakkar at the trade deadline. He is now 6-0 with his new team.

The Drakkar are the hottest team in the league right now, winning their 11th straight game. Like the strong Baie-Comeau teams in years past, they are built around a strong offence. They showed that off on Friday, firing 45 shots on Sea Dogs goaltender Mikhail Denisov.

Ethan Crossman, Gabriel Fortier, Jordan Martel, Sacha Roy and Xavier Bouchard all scored for the Drakkar. Ivan Chekhovich, the league's leading scorer, was held pointless for just the ninth time all season.

Saint John goals came from Jeremie Poirier, Maxim Cajkovic and Josh Lawrence. Denisov made 40 stops in the loss.

The Sea Dogs website has a full recap.

LINEUP

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards William Poirier, James White and Robbie Burt; and defenseman William Villeneuve.

NOTES: 16-year-old Alexis Belisle, acquired from the Rimouski Oceanic during the trade period, made his QMJHL debut... the Sea Dogs have now lost four straight games... Josh Lawrence scored his first goal since Jan. 3... Maxim Cajkovic now has goals in three straight games and has scored in five of his past seven matches.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the Chicoutimi Sagueneens on Saturday at 7 p.m.