RECAP: Sea Dogs win 4-3

FINAL: Moncton 3, Saint John 4

SAINT JOHN - Make it back-to-back wins to start the 2019-20 season for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs improved to 2-0-0-0 after defeating the Moncton Wildcats 4-3 on Saturday night at TD Station. It's the first time Saint John has gotten off to a 2-0 start since the 2010-11 season, indicating that this year's squad will win 58 games and a national championship. SICK.

William Villeneuve, Josh Lawrence, Nicolas Guay and Joshua Roy all scored for Saint John while Zachary Bouthillier made 32 saves in the victory.

The perfect start will no doubt give the young Sea Dogs some confidence after what the club has been through the past couple seasons. It's also nice to see some players get an early boost - like rookie Joshua Roy and the often inconsistent Josh Lawrence - by being rewarded with goals.

Alexandre Parent, Mika Cyr and Christian Huntley scored for Moncton. Backup netminder Charles-Antoine Lavallee made 21 saves in the loss.

The Sea Dogs website has a full game recap.

LINEUP

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Alexis Belisle (injured), Matt Gould (healthy) and Julian Vander Voet (healthy) along with defenseman Jordan Spadafore (suspended) and Patrick Musico (healthy).

BIG HIT: James White was given a major penalty and game misconduct for a bit open ice hit on Sean Stewart late in the first period. The Sea Dogs would kill off the penalty and Dawson Stairs replaced White on the top line. Here's the Rogers TV angle of the hit:

Tough at high speed, looks like head was point of contact, I get the 5 and game but doubt it’s suspendable pic.twitter.com/l1rGTUnVRB

— 🎙 Wildcast Podcast 🎧 (@MonctonWildcast) September 21, 2019

FIRST GOAL: After third overall pick Zachary L'Heureux made a lovely play to setup a Moncton goal in the second period, first overall pick Joshua Roy upped that, scoring his first QMJHL goal early in the third - a goal that proved to be the game winner.

GUAY ARRIVES: Nicolas Guay is going to need to be a key part of Saint John's offense this year - and he's off to a good start, scoring his first goal as a Sea Dog in the second period.

CYR DOES IT AGAIN: Mika Cyr has become a real Sea Dogs killer. After putting up five goals and five assists in nine games against Saint John last year, Cyr recorded a goal and an assist in Saturday's contest.

CAREER HIGH: Defenseman William Villeneuve has already set a new career high for goals in a season. He has scored in both of Saint John's games this season after registering just one goal in 55 matches last season.

NOTES: Joona Lehmus made a great pass from the blue line to setup Nicolas Guay's goal. The assist was Lehmus's first QMJHL point... Jeremie Poirier recorded two assists... Nicholas Deakin-Poot and Sean Stewart had a lengthy fight in the first period... heavyweight in attendance included MP Wayne Long; Sea Dogs owner Scott McCain; and Wildcats owner Robert Irving.

HIGHLIGHTS


NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs visit the Cape Breton Eagles on Saturday night at 7 p.m.