Recap: Sea Dogs lose 5-4

FINAL: Halifax 5, Saint John 4

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - Missed scoring opportunities and some defensive mishaps proved costly for the Saint John Sea Dogs on Sunday.

The Sea Dogs hit (at least) four posts and then struggled defensively at times in the second half of the game, ultimately falling 5-4 to the Halifax Mooseheads at TD Station.

The loss drops the Sea Dogs two points back of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan for third-place in the Eastern Conference. The Titan have played two fewer games as well.

After winning 10 straight contests, it was a bit of a rough week for the Sea Dogs, falling to both the Mooseheads and Charlottetown Islanders in regulation time. Both games were winnable - but some mishaps proved too costly to overcome.

Ryan Francis scored a pair of goals for Saint John while Raivis Ansons and William Dufour also scored. Nikolas Hurtubise was pulled after allowing five goals on 24 shots - including a pair of third period goals 34 seconds apart. Thomas Couture stopped all five shots he faced in relief.

Brady James was a major reason for the Mooseheads win, making 35 stops. Elliot Desnoyers, Bobby Orr, Jordan Dumais, Zack Jones and Zachary Beauregard scored for Halifax.

LINEUP

Burns - Lawrence - Dufour

Ansons - Daoust - Francis

Lessard - MacDonald - Bezeau

Picard - Trenholm - Blagden

Poirier - DesRoches

Drapeau - Villeneuve

Sevigny - Despont

Hurtubise

Couture

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without goaltender Noah Patenaude (injury); defenseman Yan Kuznetsov (injury); and forwards Peter Reynolds (injury) and Jacob Chantler (injured).

HISTORY: With an assist on Ryan Francis' third period goal, William Villeneuve made some Sea Dogs franchise history.

With his 120th career assist, William Villeneuve has passed Thomas Chabot and now has the most assists by a Sea Dog in franchise history!

Congratulations @WilliamVillene9 pic.twitter.com/Sr0clzJh6d

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) March 27, 2022

FRANCIS: Ryan Francis has been red hot of late, scoring another two goals on Sunday. He now has seven goals in his past five games - a stretch that has seen him post three two-goal games.

DUFOUR: William Dufour scored his 45th goal of the season in the third period. He is now just two goals away from tying Danick Gauthier's franchise record for goals in a single season. Dufour continues to lead the QMJHL in goals and has moved back into the points lead as well (93).

Dufour keeps the puck in the zone and ties the game at 3! 🚨#CityofChampions pic.twitter.com/7PCdj13RD7

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) March 27, 2022

NOTES: Raivis Ansons had a goal and two assists... Vincent Sevigny had seven shots... Riley Bezeau had five hits... Halifax won 29/56 faceoffs... attendance was 3,244.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAMES: The Sea Dogs and Mooseheads meet again on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Halifax.