Recap: Sea Dogs lose 4-3

FINAL: Halifax 4, Saint John 3

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - A third period comeback fell just short for the Saint John Sea Dogs on Wednesday at TD Station

The Sea Dogs trailed the Halifax Mooseheads 4-0 in the third period at one point and were able to cut the deficit to 4-3 – but that would be as close as they would get.

Saint John outshot Halifax 31-25 and had plenty of chances but struggled to find enough finish. They also went 0/4 on the power play. Mooseheads goaltender Owen Bresson had a strong game in net, making 28 saves in the win.

The loss dropped the Sea Dogs to a disappointing 5-11-0-0 at home so far this season and extended their home losing streak to six games. They are now 12-18-1-0 overall, keeping them 17th overall in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

The Mooseheads grabbed a 1-0 lead at 5:27 of the opening frame when Quinn Kennedy scored. Saint John started to get things going on a four-minute power play later in the first but they couldn't convert on their chances. 

In the second, Shawn Carrier scored just 1:13 in to keep momentum going. Kennedy added another at 13:09 to give Halifax a commanding 3-0 advantage. Saint John had their chances in the middle frame but they couldn't beat Bresson.

Saint John couldn't score on a power play that carried over into the third. Instead, back at even strength at 2:45, Carrier netted his second to give the Moose a 4-0 advantage.

Zachary Morin got Saint John on the board at 5:08 of the third followed by Elliot Dubé at 11:18 and William Yared at 17:02. The Sea Dogs pulled Rafaël Courchesne later in the game but they couldn't add another despite generating pressure in the offensive zone.

Courchesne made 21 stops in the loss.

LINEUP

Fullerton - Groulx - Donovan

Morin - Joseph - Gendron

Héroux - Yared - Rozzi

Beveridge - Dubé

Vilen - Duhamel

Croteau - Wasmer

Croteau - Baldwin

Zubek

Courchesne

Robinson

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Olivers Murnieks (world juniors), Matthew Krayer (injury or sickness), Jacob Beaulieu (healthy) and Alexis Gauthier (healthy) along with defenseman Cameron Chartrand (injury).

NOTES: The Sea Dogs wore their Christmas-themed jerseys for a second time... Saint John went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen with forward Alexis Gauthier the final scratch... the Sea Dogs didn't record a shot on goal until 8:55 of the first period while on a power play... Zachary Morin had a goal and an assist... William Yared's goal was his first since Oct. 13... Angelo Fullerton had four shots... Nolann Héroux picked up his fourth assist in just his seventh QMJHL game, setting up Elliot Dubé's goal... this was Halifax's first trip to Saint John this season... attendance was 2,200.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs and Mooseheads meet again tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Scotiabank Centre.