RECAP: Sunk On The Saguenay. Dogs Lose 4-3.

FINAL: Saint John 3, Chicoutimi 4 (SO)

CHICOUTIMI, Que. – All good things must come to an end.

The Saint John Sea Dogs learned that on Friday night in Chicoutimi as their 17-game winning streak came to an end. The Sagueneens edged the Sea Dogs 4-3 in a shootout, handing the visitors their first loss in nearly two months.

Steve Lebel scored just 48 seconds in to give the Sags an early lead. Jeremy Gregoire and Guillaume Asselin also scored in regulation for the victors while Asselin and Charles Hudon connected in the shootout. Christopher Gibson made 27 saves for the victory.

Saint John had two goals from Danick Gauthier, giving him 44 on the year and is now just two away from tying Mike Hoffman’s single season record. Zack Phillips also scored and Jonathan Huberdeau added the Sea Dogs’ lone shootout marker. Mathieu Corbeil, who according to News 88.9 was nursing a minor hand injury suffered in practice earlier this week, allowed three goals on 28 shots in the loss.

There are a couple of positives to take away from this game. Alexandre Beauregard made his return from thyroid cancer, playing in his first game since December 28. Beauregard, who Saint John traded to Chicoutimi earlier this season, didn’t play a whole lot but did get a shot on goal. The 20-year old took part in the ceremonial faceoff with Huberdeau.

The other positive is that the Sea Dogs did earn a point and are now four points up on Shawinigan in the race for first place and have a game in hand. The Cataractes lost 5-3 to Rimouski tonight and have just three games remaining on their schedule.

Saint John and Shawinigan meet for the final time this regular season on Sunday at the Bionest Centre.

FIRST PERIOD

Chicoutimi took a 1-0 lead just 48 seconds in. Steve Lebel fired a wrist shot long glove side that beat Mathieu Corbeil to give the home side an early lead.

The goal energized the Sagueneens as they were buzzing for several minutes. Guillaume Asselin nearly had a goal but a pass to him in front was too high to poke a stick at. Saint John committed a few turnovers early on that generated Chicoutimi scoring opportunities.

The Sea Dogs slowly began to find their legs. Maxime Villemaire kept the puck on a two-on-one with Stephen MacAulay but was denied by Christopher Gibson in the Sagueneens goal.

Saint John went to the power play at 6:29 as Alexandre Beauregard headed off. The Dogs couldn’t get a whole lot going during the span.

They headed back to the man advantage at 9:14. At 11:07, Pierre Durepos point shot went wide with Danick Gauthier in front. He grabbed the puck and spun the shot towards the goal, going through some traffic and past Gibson to make it a 1-1 game.

Chicoutimi then went to the power play at 11:58. Christian Ouellet had a great chance at the side of the goal but was denied by Corbeil’s glove. Not long after the penalty ended, Lebel let a wrist shot go from the same spot he scored from but Corbeil made the save this time.

The Dogs went back to the power play at 16:20. Charlie Coyle had a couple of great chances but was stopped both times by Gibson.

Late in the period, Asselin had a great chance in front but could not connect.

Shots were 11-11 in the first frame.

SECOND PERIOD

One-minute into the second period, the Sags headed to the power play. They had some pressure on and nearly jammed the puck in past Corbeil but could not retake the lead.

Back at even strength, Corbeil made a huge pad save on Jean-Gabriel Pageau in front. Then, Etienne Brodeur was left alone but was robbed by the glove of the Saint John ‘tender.

Chicoutimi headed back to the man advantage at 8:36 and they would strike. At 9:34, Andrew O’Brien’s shot was tipped by Jeremy Gregoire in front, beating Corbeil up high to give the home side a 2-1 advantage.

But the Sea Dogs would respond at 13:35. Coyle centered the puck for Gauthier who put home his second of the match to tie things at 2-2.

It was fairly quiet period compared to the first one but things did heat up late. Jason Seed one-timed the puck from inside the line but was stopped. A few moments later, Coyle was in front but sent it wide.

The Sea Dogs had some unreal pressure on in the final few minutes and then headed to the power play at 17:22. On the man advantage, Saint John couldn’t generate many scoring opportunities and the teams headed to the dressing tied at 2-2.

Shots were 10-9 Chicoutimi in the second frame.

THIRD PERIOD

The first few minutes of the third period were fairly uneventful. Both teams had some chances but none could be considered dangerous.

At 7:58, Kevin Gagne made a great pass to a streaking Zack Phillips. The Fredericton native went in alone and slipped the puck in around Gibson to give Saint John a 3-2 lead.

But at 8:34, Guillaume Asselin was interfered with on a break and was awarded a penalty shot. On his free attempt, Asselin ripped the disc past Corbeil to tie the game up again.

Jonathan Huberdeau went to the box at 9:50 to give Chicoutimi a huge power play opportunity. The Sags had some pressure on but couldn’t get a whole lot going.

Later on in the game, Ryan Tesink fed Charles Roussel in front but was robbed by Gibson. The game would require some extra time.

Shots were 7-5 Saint John in the third stanza,

OVERTIME

In overtime, both teams traded chances early on. Midway through, Huberdeau was hauled down but somehow did not draw a penalty. Maxime Villemaired then smoked some guy with a huge open ice hit.

Gerard Gallant wasn’t happy about something after the missed call on Huberdeau.

Shots in the extra frame were 3-2 in favour of the Sea Dogs.

SHOOTOUT

Huberdeau gave the Sea Dogs a 1-0 lead in the first round. After Pageau tied it, Coyle could not score. In round three, Charles Hudon scored and Gauthier did not, giving the Sagueneens the extra point.

NOTES: See Sea Dogs Postscript tomorrow on SN.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs are in Shawinigan this Sunday. 

Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation