Recap: Sea Dogs win 6-1

FINAL: Bathurst 1, Saint John 6

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - After dropping six straight, the Saint John Sea Dogs have now won back-to-back games.

The Sea Dogs earned their second victory in as many nights on Friday, defeating the Acadie-Bathurst Titan 6-1 at TD Station.

Nico Laforge, Cam MacDonald, Vince Elie, Eriks Mateiko, Brady Burns and Connor Trenholm all scored for Saint John. Ventsislav Shingarov made 33 saves in the win, earning his first victory since Oct. 7.

The Sea Dogs never trailed in this game and felt in control for most of it. They produced some solid penalty kills in the opening frame - including a shorthanded goal - which proved key as the game stayed close until the middle frame. Saint John netted three goals in the second and then secured the win with a couple more in the third.

Philippe Collette scored Bathurst's lone goal. Sergei Litvinov allowed four goals on 31 shots in the first two periods. Jack Howatt allowed two goals on 13 shots in the third.

LINEUP

Reynolds - MacDonald - Burns

Laforge - Trenholm - Cournoyer

Simek - Burbidge - Elie

Thifault - Mateiko

Tivey - DesRoches

Bilodeau - Despont

Tracey - Cosman

Richard

Shingarov

Brideau

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without goaltender Nikolas Hurtubise (healthy); and forwards Danny Akkouche (healthy), Jacob Beaulieu (injury), Noah Reinhart (healthy) and Tomasz Szczerba (injury).

PRE-GAME: It was Hockey Fights Cancer night at TD Station with the Sea Dogs wearing purple jerseys. Zamboni driver Dave Curtis performed the ceremonial puck drop.

Tonight, Dave Curtis will be dropping the puck for #HockeyFightsCancer!

Grab your tickets, put on your purple, and head to TD Station at 7 PM tonight! https://t.co/SLM1prF5Zt

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 28, 2022

Dave Curtis, dropping the puck and driving the Zamboni. All in a nights work. 👏 pic.twitter.com/uNA4rNFQs7

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 28, 2022

FIRST VISIT: This was the Titan's first visit of the season to TD Station, meaning this was the first visit back to Saint John for former Sea Dogs head coach Gordie Dwyer. The first year Titan head coach and general manager faced the Dogs a few times in the pre-season and once in the regular season, but this was the first matchup held in Saint John.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Saint John has struggled on the power play and penalty kill this season, but both had a decent night. Saint John went 1/2 on the man advantage and killed off all four Bathurst power plays.

REYNOLDS HURT: Sea Dogs forward Peter Reynolds was injured in the first period and left the ice in visible discomfort. He did not return to the game, leaving the Sea Dogs with 10 forwards. Reynolds entered the contest as Saint John's leading scorer.

SHORTHANDED: Nico Laforge's first of the season in the first period was Saint John's first shorthanded goal. Entering the game, the only teams who hadn't scored a shorthanded goal this season were the Sea Dogs, Drummondville Voltigeurs, Rimouski Oceanic and Halifax Mooseheads.

Nico Laforge's first goal of the season and it's SHORT HANDED! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/o7wXS35dAs

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 28, 2022

MACDONALD STAYS HOT: Cam MacDonald scored in the second period to continue his hot play of late. The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect has four goals and three assists over his past four games.

FIRST GOALS: Vince Elie netted the first goal of his QMJHL career in the second period, showing off his speed on a power play.

Vince Elie nets his first QMJHL goal on his backhand! 🚨#CityofChampions pic.twitter.com/nd63hnCBkz

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 28, 2022

Just over five minutes later, Eriks Mateiko netted his first in the QMJHL.

Eriks Mateiko gets his first QMJHL goal with a redirection in front of the net! 🚨#CityofChampions pic.twitter.com/ZzfJIpOhuK

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 28, 2022

NOTES: The Sea Dogs went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen for this game... the Titan were without a couple key players in No. 1 netminder and Detroit Red Wings prospect Jan Bednar along with Seattle Kraken prospect Jacob Melanson... Charlie DesRoches and Cam MacDonald both have points in four straight games... Brady Burns recorded the 200th point of his QMJHL career... the Sea Dogs improved to 2-0-0-0 against the Titan this season... DesRoches and Cole Burbidge had two assists... Connor Trenholm has goals in back-to-back games... Nico Laforge had six shots... attendance was just 2,045.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs travel to Moncton to face the Wildcats on Sunday at 4 p.m.