RECAP: Green Machine. Dogs Lose 5-2.

FINAL: Halifax 5, Saint John 2

SAINT JOHN – Nikolaj Ehlers seems to enjoy playing against the Saint John Sea Dogs.

With a goal and an assist tonight, Ehlers now has seven goals and seven assists in six games against the Sea Dogs this season. The rookie import forward was named first star in the Halifax Mooseheads’ 5-2 victory in Saint John on Tuesday night.

Andrew Ryan, Danny Moynihan, Matt Murphy, and Brent Andrews also scored for the Moose. Darcy Ashley and Jonathan Drouin each had two assists. Zach Fucale made 22 saves in the victory, the 100^th in his QMJHL career.

Sea Dogs goals came from Nicolas Hebert and Nathan Noel. Sebastien Auger made 29 saves in the loss.

Saint John managed to hang around with the Moose for much of the game. Halifax really turned it on in the third period to secure the win. You have to think the Sea Dogs are feeling a bit fatigued these days during this busy January stretch. The Dogs will now have a few days to prepare for Saturday’s tough matchup against the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.

FIRST PERIOD

Early on, Jesse Lussier walked into the crease area from the side boards and got a shot off on Sebastien Auger but was denied. Soon after, Noah Zilbert had a chance in front of the Halifax net but was denied by Zach Fucale.

Saint John went to the power play at 3:46 but they couldn’t generate any good chances. Soon after the man advantage, Oliver Cooper had a chance at the side of the net but his shot was blocked.

Jason Cameron went to the box at 8:53, giving Halifax a power play. At 10:03, Darcy Ashley swung the puck in front where Andrew Ryan put it over Auger to make it 1-0 Moose.

With Nikolaj Ehlers already in the box, Matt Murphy took a bad slashing penalty at 13:58 to give Saint John a five-on-three advantage. Saint John had some pressure on and a couple chances but could not beat Fucale.

The Moose went to another power play at 16:56 but couldn’t score. After the penalty expired, Timo Meier fed Luca Ciampini on a two-on-one but fired the puck wide.

Shots were 10-8 Moose in the first.

SECOND PERIOD

The Sea Dogs tied the game at 3:09 of the second. After getting hooked up on his way to the net, Spencer Smallman sent the puck back. It hit a Mooseheads skate and went to Nicolas Hebert who buried the puck to make it 1-1.

But Halifax quickly got back in front. Ehlers netted his 28^th of the year at 4:30 to make it 2-1 Moose.

Then the penalties started. With Darcy Ashley already in the box, Jonathan Drouin joined him to give the Dogs a five-on-three at 10:32. Then at 11:59, Ehlers took an elbowing penalty to give Saint John another five-on-three. Unfortunately for the Dogs, they couldn’t get much of anything going on the man advantages and created very few quality scoring opportunities.

Halifax took a 3-1 lead at 14:44 thanks to a lovely feed from Ehlers. His long pass from the side boards found Danny Moynihan in front who scored into an open cage.

Shots in the second stanza were 11-11.

THIRD PERIOD

Early on in the third, Andrew Ryan hit the post.

Halifax made it 4-1 at 4:11 as Matt Murphy beat Auger under the bar.

Andrew Shewfelt then fed Drouin who tapped the puck wide. Halifax was dominating at this point. It looked like a Mooseheads power play.

Noel got the Sea Dogs back into the game as he snuck the puck past Fucale at 11:53 to make it 4-2.

The Dogs pulled Auger with 1:28 to go but they would not get on the board again. Brent Andrews netted an empty netter with 11 seconds remaining to make it a 5-2 final.

Shots in the third were 14-5 Halifax and 34-24 overall in favour of the Moose.

Saint John went 0-for-6 on the power play while Halifax went 1-for-2.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the Baie-Comeau Drakkar on Saturday night at 7pm.