RECAP: Unreal. Dogs Win 2-0.

FINAL: Saint John 2, Val-d’Or 0

VAL-D’OR, Que. – Sebastien. Auger.

The Saint John Sea Dogs’ goaltender had yet another redonkulous performance on Friday night, posting a stunning 2-0 victory over the Val-d’Or Foreurs at the Air Creebec Centre. The win comes less than a week after shutting out the Acadie-Bathurst Titan – which was Auger’s first shutout in nearly two years.

But the Foreurs are certainly not the Titan. Val-d’Or, which features the always dangerous Anthony Mantha, leads the entire Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in goals scored this season. But with Auger in beast mode on Friday, not even the powerful Foreurs offense could beat him.

The Dogs ‘tender made several huge stops throughout the game, particularly in the third period when it was basically all Val-d’Or. Anthony Richard had a breakaway late in the third and could have tied things up but was denied. Saint John was outshot 53-21 in the game, including 24-1 in the third period. The Dogs’ only shot in the third came via Oliver Cooper’s empty net goal.

Along with Cooper’s empty netter, rookie Mathieu Joseph netted his first career QMJHL goal on a power play in the second. Joseph has been playing some great hockey of late and you knew a goal was going to come soon.

Antoine Bibeau made 19 stops in the loss.

The Sea Dogs kept the likes of Mantha and Guillaume Gelinas off the score sheet but also managed to contain the league’s best power play which went 0-for-4 in this one. Saint John went 1-for-2.

Saint John, 16-30-1-3 for 36 points, still sit one-point back of the Sherbrooke Phoenix for the final playoff spot.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs end their Quebec road trip with an 8pm game in Rouyn-Noranda tomorrow night.