RECAP: Happy New Year. Dogs Lose 5-2.

FINAL: Saint John 2, Moncton 5

MONCTON – 2011 ended on a disappointing note for the Saint John Sea Dogs on Saturday.

The Sea Dogs fell 5-2 to Moncton Wildcats and will enter 2012 on a three-game losing streak. Saint John and Moncton open the 2012 portion of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s schedule on Monday night at Harbour Station.

Allain Saulnier scored twice for the Wildcats while singles came from Patrick Delisle-Houde, Ryan Penny, and Marek Hrivik. Roman Will made 32 saves for the ‘Cats in the win.

Saint John had goals from Kevin Gagne and Zack Phillips. Mathieu Corbeil allowed five goals on 28 shots.

Some stuff on the game.

• Basically the same story. Dogs are really missing some players right now. 
• The Wildcats opened the scoring just 25 seconds into the first period. The Sea Dogs battled back though, taking a 2-1 lead at one point in the second. Moncton tied it with a shorthanded goal. The goal seemed to really deflate the Sea Dogs.
• Mathieu Corbeil was letting out some huge rebounds all night long. He allowed five shots on 28 shots. Not his greatest performance.
• Zack Phillips had been quiet the two previous games but had a solid contest on Saturday. He had a goal and four shots.
• We’d really like to know how many shorthanded goals the Wildcats have scored against the Sea Dogs the past three years.
• The line of Phillips, Stephen Anderson and Aidan Kelly played pretty well.
• Pretty good night for Dylan McGuigan. He had an assist and six shots.
• Danick Gauthier was a -4.
• Pierre Durepos had a team high seven shots. He also hit the post once.
• Went to this game. Quite a few Sea Dogs fans at the game considering the weather. Parking lot was like a skating rink.
• Just like the world junior game tonight, there was a delay in announcing the 50/50 winner because so many tickets were purchased.
• Nothing against the world juniors, but they really can't end soon enough?

Happy New Year.