RECAP: Where Them Goals At. Dogs Lose 2-1

FINAL: Chicoutimi 2, Saint John 1

SAINT JOHN – The goals just aren’t coming for the Saint John Sea Dogs right now.

Despite getting 34 shots on net, outshooting the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, and being awarded seven power play opportunities, the Sea Dogs could score just once in a 2-1 loss to the Sags in front of a small Sunday afternoon crowd at Harbour Station.

The Sea Dogs have now lost five straight games heading into this week’s Quebec road trip. Over those five games Saint John has scored just five goals.

The Dogs fell to 5-8-0-1 with the loss and remain in the Maritimes Division basement and 16^th overall in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Spencer Smallman, who also scored in Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Quebec Remparts, had Saint John’s only goal. Sebastien Auger made 31 saves in the loss.

Chicoutimi had goals from Laurent Dauphin and Jeremy Bouchard. Julio Billia made 33 saves in the win.

The Sagueneens improved to 8-8-0-0 on the year.

FIRST PERIOD

The Sea Dogs went to the power play just 1:14 in but could not get much going.

At 7:50, Saint John had too many men on the ice so Chicoutimi went to the man advantage. The Sags had some good pressure on but could not connect.

Back at even strength, Julio Billia made a nice save on a Connor Donaghey tip.

Simon Tremblay headed to the box for boarding at 10:39. Just six seconds into the power play, Spencer Smallman scored on a shot through some traffic to make it 1-0 Saint John.

Saint John was awarded a full two-minute five-on-three power play at 11:29 as two different Chicoutimi players took separate penalties. Olivier LeBlanc had the best chance as he hit the crossbar.

The five-on-three advantage ended at 13:10 when Oliver Cooper was given an interference penalty. Then Smallman took a high sticking minor at 14:22 to give the Sags a five-on-three. Charles Hudon made a nice slap pass to Laurent Dauphin who simply tapped the puck in to make it a 1-1 game.

Because the period needed more penalties, LeBlanc took a cross checking penalty at 16:24. Chicoutimi would not score on it but Saint John did have a couple of decent shorthanded opportunities thanks to Noah Zilbert and Matthew Highmore.

Shots in the first were 13-12 Saint John.

SECOND PERIOD

Chicoutimi went to the power play just 37 seconds in as Cooper was called for high sticking. Nothing happened.

Back at even strength, Smallman had a good chance in front of the Sags net but sent it wide. Then, back the other way, Sebastien Auger made a fine shoulder save off a Sebastien Sylvestre shot.

Near the midway point of the period, Saint John had a good stretch of sustained pressure in the offensive zone.

At 11:54, the world stood still as Nathan Noel and Nicholas Roy dropped the gloves for a fight.

It was a pretty good scrap between the two rookie forwards.

Jeremy Bouchard gave Chicoutimi a 2-1 lead at 14:15 with a hard wrist shot that beat Auger high glove side. That goal was reviewed quickly but was called a good goal.

Soon after, Stephen Anderson had a great chance in front but was robbed by Billia.

Saint John had another power play at 15:02 but couldn’t get much going. Victor Provencher took a checking to the head penalty at 19:00 to give the Dogs a power play to start the third.

Shots were 12-10 Sags in the second.

THIRD PERIOD

The Sea Dogs failed to capitalize on the power play that carried over into the third.

A few minutes later, Sylvestre tried to jam the puck in past Auger but he couldn’t. Saint John went to another power play at 8:19 but, other than a couple good shorthanded chances for the Sags, was uneventful.

At 13:29, the Sea Dogs got yet another power play opportunity to try and tie the game. Despite some good pressure they could not score.

The Dogs pulled Auger late in the game and all that good stuff but could not score. Game.

Shots in the third were 11-9 Saint John and 34-33 Sea Dogs overall.

Saint John went 1-for-7 on the power play while Chicoutimi went 1-for-5.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs hit the road and travel to Drummondville to take on the Voltigeurs on Wednesday night.