Recap: Sea Dogs lose 6-5

FINAL: Newfoundland 6, Saint John 5

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - A third period goal from Noah Laberge was the difference as the Newfoundland Regiment edged the Saint John Sea Dogs 6-5 on New Year's Eve at TD Station.

Both teams put on an offensive showcase, scoring a combined four goals in the first period and six in the second. It was also a special game for special teams with both squads scoring three power play goals.

It was a back-and-forth affair with the teams trading leads. Saint John led 4-2 at one point in the second period only for Newfoundland to tie it up at 4-4 and then again at 5-5. Laberge's goal at 7:56 of the third – which came on the man advantage – proved to be the difference.

The Sea Dogs had a power play late in the third – with a penalty called on Laberge, ironically – but they couldn't generate another goal. Saint John pulled goaltender Rafaël Courchesne late but a checking to the head penalty to Everett Baldwin at 19:28 essentially ended any comeback attempt.

Alexis Joseph had a hat trick and an assist for Saint John while Baldwin had a goal and three helpers. Alexander Donovan also scored. Courchesne made 35 saves in the loss.

Along with Laberge, Justin Larose netted a pair of goals for Newfoundland while singles came from Louis-Francois Belanger, Tyson Goguen and Marek Danicek. Antoine Proulx was pulled in the second period after allowing four goals on 16 shots. Louis-Antoine Denault allowed a goal on 27 shots in relief.

LINEUP

Fullerton - Groulx - Donovan

Morin - Joseph - Gendron

Rozzi - Krayer - Yared

Héroux - Dubé - Gauthier

Vilen - Duhamel

Wasmer - Baldwin

Croteau - Drabczynski

Courchesne

Robinson

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forward Olivers Murnieks (IIHF World Junior Championship) along with defensemen Cameron Chartrand (injury) and Patryk Zubek (healthy).

NOTES: Saint John went back to 12 forwards and six defensemen with Patryk Zubek the final scratch... this was the Regiment's first ever appearance at TD Station. The Regiment will play in Saint John two more times over the next couple weeks... defenseman Alexis Mathieu made his Regiment debut after being acquired in a trade from the Baie-Comeau Drakkar on Tuesday... Nolann Héroux drew a penalty just nine seconds into the game... the Sea Dogs hadn't scored first in seven straight games... Alexander Donovan has scored in three straight games... goaltender Rafaël Courchesne was called for playing the puck outside the trapezoid area in the first period... Everett Baldwin, with a goal and three assists in this game, has two goals and three assists since the Christmas break... Baldwin set a career high for assists and points in a single game... Alexis Joseph tied a career high for goals and points in a single game... Joseph has four goals and three assists in three games against the Regiment this season... Baldwin had six shots... both teams went 3/6 on the power play. Newfoundland allowed four power play goals in the Moncton the night before... the Sea Dogs are now 0-3-0-0 against the Regiment this season... Saint John has now dropped four straight New Year's Eve games and are 6-9-0-0 all-time... attendance was a season high 4,401.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs are back in action on Sunday when they host the Halifax Mooseheads at 3 p.m.