Recap: Sea Dogs win 4-3

FINAL: Halifax 3, Saint John 4

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - Ryan Francis recorded a goal and an assist in his first game of the season to help the Saint John Sea Dogs defeat the Halifax Mooseheads 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at TD Station.

Francis, who had been with the American Hockey League's Stockton Heat on a tryout basis, was noticeable on the ice all day long, creating a number of scoring opportunities for a team that has struggled to do so at times this year.

The overager finished the game with three shots - all of which were considered dangerous. Besides his goal, he had a couple of other great chances in the game, deflecting a shot just wide in the first period and was denied on a breakaway in the third.

Riley Bezeau, Brady Burns and Evgeny Sapelnikov also scored for Saint John. Jeremie Poirier added two assists while Jonathan Lemieux made 26 saves in the win.

It was a fairly solid afternoon for the Sea Dogs who jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the second period. The Mooseheads replied with two goals in that middle frame, but Saint John was able to keep the train on the tracks and earn the win - something that has not been easy in the early goings of this season.

Halifax got within one late in the game but the Sea Dogs were able to hold off the visitors' attack in the final minute.

Halifax goals came from Cameron Whynot, Elliot Desnoyers and Markus Vidicek. Brady James made 32 saves in the loss.

LINEUP

Burns - Lawrence - Dufour

Savoie - Reynolds - Francis

Picard - MacDonald - Bezeau

Foston - Crete - Sapelnikov

Poirier - Inniss

Drapeau - DesRoches

Gartley - Despont

Lemieux

Patenaude

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without defenseman William Villeneuve (injury) along with forwards Carter McCluskey (healthy), Adam Bowness (healthy) and Nico Laforge (healthy).

STREAKS: Sea Dogs forward William Dufour was held pointless on Sunday, ending his point streak at nine games. Brady Burns, with a goal in the first period, extended his home point streak to eight games.

CLOSE GAMES: Including pre-season play and last season, the last five meetings between the Sea Dogs and Mooseheads have been decided by one-goal.

STANDINGS: The victory puts the Sea Dogs back at the .500 mark with a 5-5-0-2 record, which places them fifth in the Maritimes Division. Only two points separate the Sea Dogs and second-place Bathurst as things remain tight early on in the Maritimes.

HALLOWEEN: The Sea Dogs are now 4-2-0-0 all-time in Halloween games.

2010-11: 7-0 win at Rouyn-Noranda

2012-13: 2-1 loss vs Blainville-Boisbriand

2015-16: 5-3 win vs Val-d'Or

2019-20: 6-1 loss vs Rimouski

2020-21: 5-3 win vs Cape Breton

2021-22: 4-3 win vs Halifax

ATTENDANCE: Halloween games just don't bring people through the doors.

Attendance today is 2,026. Second smallest crowd in Sea Dogs history.

Three of the seven smallest crowds in team history have come on Halloween.

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) October 31, 2021

NOTES: This was the first meeting of the season between the Sea Dogs and Mooseheads... Saint John does not play at home again until Nov. 12... Sea Dogs forward Cole Foston, who appeared in 23 games with Halifax last season, played in his first regular season contest against his old club... Peter Reynolds and Brady Burns each had five shots... Olivier Picard had seven hits... this was only the second time this season that Jonathan Lemieux faced fewer than 30 shots when playing a full game.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs begin a three-in-three Quebec road trip on Thursday night against the Quebec Remparts. Game time is 8 p.m. Atlantic.