RECAP: Sea Dogs lose 4-0

FINAL: Halifax 4, Saint John 0

SAINT JOHN - An overall strong effort wasn't enough for the Saint John Sea Dogs on Monday afternoon.

Saint John fired 36 shots on Halifax Mooseheads goaltender Cole McLaren but could not beat him, ultimately falling 4-0 on Family Day at Harbour Station.

Saint John had some solid chances but simply had no puck luck. When the bounces did go Saint John's way, McLaren was in position to make the saves. Saint John has been shutout in two of their past three games and have scored a total of three goals in their past four games.

Brock McLeod scored two goals for the Mooseheads while singles came from Arnaud Durandeau and Joel Bishop. McLaren made 36 stops for the shutout victory.

Zachary Bouthillier was busy and very good in the Sea Dogs net, making 41 stops in the loss.

In an uneventful first period, Durandeau gave Halifax a 1-0 lead at 12:38, banging a rebound past Bouthillier from a very sharp angle.

Halifax doubled their lead at 15:55 of the second period. Marcel Barinka was behind the net and sent a perfect feed to McLeod in front who beat Bouthillier with a quick wrist shot.

Saint John had some strong scoring chances in the first half of the third period - including one where the puck was in the blue paint but stayed out. At the other end, Bouthillier was very good in the early goings of the third.

With 8:02 remaining, Bishop redirected a shot that went off a Saint John skate in the crease and in, giving Halifax a 3-0 advantage. Then with 3:12 left, McLeod was parked in front and put a rebound past Bouthillier, giving Halifax a 4-0 lead.

LINEUP

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Yohan Plamondon (injured), Aiden MacIntosh (injured) and Jeremie Jacob (injured); and defenseman Patrick Musico (healthy).

NOTES: Head coach Josh Dixon returned behind the Sea Dogs bench after missing the past few games due to a death in his family... forward Jordan Spadafore, who was claimed off waivers earlier this year, made his Sea Dogs debut. He has been playing with the MHL's Grand Falls Rapids... somewhat surprisingly, Spadafore wore Robbie Burt's No. 26... this was the first time Bouthillier has played a 60-minute game since Feb. 9... affiliates Alexis Belisle and Carson Gallant were in the Sea Dogs lineup again. Gallant was used as a forward again as well... Samuel Asselin had a 15-game point streak come to an end while Antoine Morand and Raphael Lavoie had nine game point streaks end... Saint John has now lost five straight while Halifax has won five straight.

HIGHLIGHTS


NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs visit the Halifax Mooseheads on Saturday at 7 p.m.