The Saint John Sea Dogs kicked off a challenging three-in-three trip with a solid 5-4 win over the Quebec Remparts at Videotron Centre on Thursday.
Riley Bezeau scored a pair of goals while singles came from Charles Savoie, William Dufour and Olivier Picard. Jonathan Lemieux made 30 stops in the win.
Saint John trailed 1-0 after one. After Savoie tied the game at 3:52 of the second, the Sea Dogs took the lead at 9:36 when Peter Reynolds picked off a pass and then fed Bezeau in front.
The Remparts tied the game again at 15:04 but the Sea Dogs did not let the goal get them down. Dufour scored in close at 16:14 and then, less than a minute later, Picard scored his second of the year on a nice feed from Charlie DesRoches to give the Dogs a 4-2 lead after two.
Zachary Bolduc got Quebec back within one at 7:08 of the third. Saint John wasn't able to generate much offense in the final frame, recording just three shots. Bezeau scored what turned out to be a key empty net goal at 17:38 as Bolduc would score again at 18:05, making it a one-goal game.
The Remparts pressed in the final minute with their net empty but the Sea Dogs held on for the win.
Pier-Olivier Roy and Charle Truchon also scored for Quebec. Fabio Iacobo made 17 stops in the loss.
This was a statement win by the Sea Dogs for a couple reasons. Not only did they defeat one of the league's top teams, but they also didn't break when the Remparts were gaining momentum, something the team has struggled with over the past couple years.
Now the big question: is this the win that finally kick starts a run of strong performances? We'll find out shortly.
Burns - Lawrence - Dufour
Savoie - Reynolds - Francis
Picard - MacDonald - Bezeau
Foston - Crete - Sapelnikov
DesRoches - Villeneuve
Poirier - Inniss
Drapeau - Despont
Lemieux
Patenaude
SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without defenseman Hunter Gartley along with forwards Carter McCluskey, Adam Bowness and Nico Laforge.
PRE-GAME: Here's something you don't see every day - Sea Dogs head coach Gordie Dwyer took part in the Remparts' ceremonial puck drop. Dwyer captained the Remparts in 1997-98. The team is celebrating their 25th anniversary this season.
This is different. Gordie Dwyer taking part in the ceremonial puck drop: pic.twitter.com/F6GuQhoY4C
— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) November 4, 2021
BEZEAU: Big game for Riley Bezeau who netted an impressive goal in the second period and then scored what proved to be the game-winner on an empty net late in the third. All this came after he took two minor penalties in the first period.
DEPTH: We've been talking for the past month about Saint John's struggles to get secondary scoring, so it was great to see Bezeau score two along with Charles Savoie and Olivier Picard.
NOTES: William Villeneuve returned to the Sea Dogs lineup and was named first star... new assistant coach Travis Crickard was behind the Sea Dogs bench for the first time... Jonathan Lemieux was solid in this game and also picked up an assist, giving him two on the season... the Remparts wore their blue 25th anniversary jerseys... lots of Sea Dogs fans and families in attendance as there always are when the team plays in Quebec City... this was Saint John's first game at the Videotron Centre since Jan. 29, 2020... William Dufour now has 11 goals in 13 games... Vincent Despont picked up his first QMJHL point - an assist on Dufour's goal... the Remparts have now lost three straight.
NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs travel to Shawinigan on Friday to face the Cataractes at 8:30 p.m.
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