Recap: Sea Dogs win 6-2

FINAL: Rimouski 2, Saint John 6

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - William Dufour isn't slowing down.

The Saint John Sea Dogs' leading scorer netted his 24th and 25th goals of the season in a 6-2 win over the Rimouski Oceanic on Sunday at TD Station. Dufour now has points in 18 straight games and has scored in five straight.

Dufour opened the scoring just 3:45 into the contest and set the tone for a dominant opening period by the Sea Dogs. Other than a few penalties and a couple rough stretches in the second period, it was a smooth and solid victory by Saint John.

Along with Dufour, Saint John had a pair of goals from Philippe Daoutst and singles from Raivis Ansons and Cam MacDonald. Thomas Couture made 14 saves in the win.

Luka Verreault and William Dumoulin scored for Rimouski. Patrik Hamrla allowed six goals on 22 shots in the first 40 minutes. Gabriel Robert made 10 saves in the third period.

The Oceanic were missing a few key forwards - including leading scorer Xavier Cormier - due to injuries or COVID protocol and played less than 24 hours ago in Moncton. Even though the Sea Dogs were considered favourites to win this game, it's good to see the team beating teams they should beat - similar to Friday's win over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. These types of wins have not come easy to this Sea Dogs team and it's a reason why they sit middle-of-the-pack in the standings.

LINEUP

Ansons - Daoust - Francis

Burns - Lawrence - Dufour

Reynolds - MacDonald - Lessard

Picard - Trenholm - Blagden

Sevigny - Villeneuve

Kuznetsov - Poirier

Drapeau - DesRoches

Couture

Hurtubise

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without goaltender Noah Patenaude; defenseman Vincent Despont; and forwards Riley Bezeau and Jacob Chantler. Bezeau, who had his fifth fight of the season on Friday, was serving a one-game suspension for an accumulation of major penalties.

CHANGES: Forward Nicholas Blagden and goaltender Thomas Couture, both acquired from the Moncton Wildcats along with Philippe Daoust, made their Sea Dogs debuts in this game. Couture, still wearing his Wildcats mask, made 14 saves in the victory.

COVID: According to le Soleil, Oceanic forwards Julien Beland, Ludovic Soucy, Alex Drover and Cam Thomson all missed Saturday's Oceanic game in COVID protocol. Drover was the only player to return to action on Sunday. Xavier Cormier, meanwhile, was hurt in Saturday's game and did not play.

STREAKS: As mentioned, with his first period breakaway goal, William Dufour extended his points streak to 18 games and his goals streak to five. Josh Lawrence also extended his points streak to 13 games with the feed. Ryan Francis recorded an assist for an eighth straight home game.

Picking up a breakout pass from Josh Lawrence, William Dufour makes it 1-0! pic.twitter.com/k19Ei9JtXT

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) February 6, 2022

FIRSTS: Raivis Ansons scored his first goal as a Sea Dog in the first period. Connor Trenholm also recorded his first point as a Sea Dog, setting up Philippe Daoust's shorthanded goal.

His first as a Sea Dog! Raivis Kristians Ansons makes it 2-0! 🚨#CityofChampions pic.twitter.com/VXcBkCTaFo

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) February 6, 2022

LOSING STREAK: Saint John ended a six-game losing streak against the Oceanic. The last time the Sea Dogs defeated the Oceanic was March 3, 2017. Mathieu Joseph had the game-winner in that contest and Alexis Lafreniere had not been drafted into the QMJHL yet. The six-game skid included some lopsided results:

Jan. 28, 2020 - 3-2 loss at RIM

Oct. 31, 2019 - 6-1 loss vs RIM

Jan. 5, 2019 - 4-2 loss vs RIM

Nov. 1, 2018 - 9-1 loss at RIM

Jan. 14, 2018 - 8-1 loss at RIM

Jan. 3, 2018 - 6-1 loss vs Rim

NOTES: This loss ended a streak of five straight games (4-0-0-1) of collecting at least a point for Rimouski... former Sea Dogs forward Alex Drover played against his old club for the first time since being dealt to Rimouski in January of 2021. He recorded an assist and two shots... Yan Kuznetsov, William Villeneuve and Olivier Picard each wore an 'A' on their jerseys... scary moment early in the third period when Josh Lawrence took a shot in the back of the head. He returned later in the period... Lawrence and Ryan Francis each had two assists... William Dufour had seven shots... Cam MacDonald had four hits... Yan Kuznetsov was a +4 and Mathis Gauthier was a -5... Vincent Sevigny had a nine-game assist streak come to an end. That ties him with Charlottetown's Xavier Simoneau for the longest assist streak of any player in the QMJHL this season... attendance with COVID restrictions in place was 1,981.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs are in Baie-Comeau on Tuesday night to face the Drakkar at 8 p.m.