RECAP: Somethin' 'Bout Bathurst. Dogs Lose 4-3.

By SN Staff

FINAL: Saint John 3, Bathurst 4

BATHURST – The Acadie-Bathurst Titan continued their winning ways over the Saint John Sea Dogs on Wednesday night at the KC Irving Regional Centre.

The Titan picked up their fourth win of the season over the Sea Dogs, winning 4-3. Bathurst had a 4-1 lead in the opening minutes of the third and hung for the win.

Zach O’Brien scored twice for Bathurst while Mirko Hoefflin and Sebastien Trudeau added singles. Robert Steeves made 30 saves for the win.

Saint John had goals from Danick Gauthier, Aidan Kelly, and Stephen MacAulay. Mathieu Corbeil allowed four goals on 19 shots before getting pulled in the third. Sebastien Auger took over and stopped all five shots he faced in relief. Corbeil didn’t look all that sharp on Wednesday while Auger made a few great stops.

We don’t even know what to say. Pretty much the same story it has been for several weeks now. Considering the amount players Saint John is missing right now, this was another decent showing.

The PEI Rocket come to town on Friday.

FIRST PERIOD

Scott Oke had a chance early in the first as he blasted the puck wide from the slot area.

At 3:54, Zach O’Brien made it a 1-0 game when beat Mathieu Corbeil down low. The goal was O’Brien’s 32nd of the season.

Exactly one-minute later at 4:54, Mirko Hoefflin came hard down the wing and beat Corbeil with a high backhand shot to give Bathurst a 2-0 lead.

Oke had another good chance for Saint John a few moments later as he was stopped by Robert Steeves. Then Danick Gauthier was in the high slot and sent shot through a small screen that was stopped by Steeves.

Jeremie Blain almost made it 3-0 Titan when he hit the post. The puck bounced back into the crease where Corbeil had to be quick to cover the puck.

Shortly after getting hurt in the corner, Aidan Kelly had a decent scoring opportunity at the top of the crease but Steeves made a good play to poke it away.

The Titan went to the power play at 19:31 as Kraig Pasher headed off but couldn’t score before the horn sounded.

Shots were 10-8 Saint John in the first period.

SECOND PERIOD

On the power play that carried over into the second period, Jordan Murray was robbed by the pad of Corbeil. That would be the best chance for Bathurst on the man advantage.

The Titan headed back to the power play at 2:32 as Zack Phillips headed off. But the Sea Dogs produced a great kill and stayed within two of the Titan.

Saint John had then started to get some pressure on. A point shot was stopped by Steeves and the rebound was pushed into his pads by some Sea Dogs players who were poking at it. Then Charles Olivier-Roussel had a great chance in front but was robbed by Steeves in close.

O’Brien had a great chance later on at the rim of the circle but Corbeil made a fine pad stop.

At 13:07, Jason Cameron hammered a Titan player into the boards and the play was blown dead. A scrum ensued after the hit. For some reason Cameron didn’t get a penalty, and some four-on-four hockey took place instead.

Alec Jon Banville had another great chance a few moments later as he was parked at the top of the crease but couldn’t get a great shot off.

Bathurst made it a 3-0 game at 16:55. Sebastien Trudeau was sprung on a break and made a deke, allowing him to slide it in past fallen Corbeil and extend Btahurst’s lead.

Just 18 seconds later, the Sea Dogs got on the board. Gauthier was behind the goal line and banked the puck off Steeves and in to make it a 3-1 game.

Shots were 13-10 Saint John in the middle frame.

THIRD PERIOD

O’Brien scored his second of the game just 24 seconds in to give Bathurst a 4-1 lead. The goal chased Corbeil from the net and was replaced by Sebastien Auger. The Titan nearly made it a 5-1 game a few moments later when a point shot hit the post.

The Sea Dogs got back within two at 4:53. A Kevin Gagne blast bounced off the glass and landed near the net. Aidan Kelly put it in to make it a 4-2 contest.

Bathurst went to the power play at 9:44. On the man advantage, Auger made a huge stop on O’Brien to keep the Sea Dogs in the game. They had some good pressure on the power play but couldn’t score.

Saint John got within one at 15:04. Kelly’s shot was stopped by Steeves but it produced a big rebound. Stephen MacAulay was in perfect position to pick it up and score into a yawning cage and make it a 4-3 game.

Mirko Hoefflin had a break soon after the goal and could have put the game away but Auger made a huge stop.

With Auger on the bench in the final minute, Saint John was awarded a power play. Despite a six-on-four man advantage, the Dogs couldn’t tie things up before the horn sounded.

Shots were 10-6 Sea Dogs in the third period.

Saint John went 0-for-1 on the power play while Bathurst went 0-for-3.