RECAP: Dogs Win 5-2

FINAL: Halifax 2, Saint John 5

Lorne Webster | SN Staff

SAINT JOHN –The Saint John Sea Dogs (6-2-0-2) returned to Harbour Station Saturday evening and came away with a 5-2 win over the Halifax Mooseheads (3-5-1-1). Spencer Smallman, with two, Justice Dundas, Thomas Chabot and Mathieu Joseph scored for the Sea Dogs while Nikolaj Ehlers and Vincent Watt responded for the Mooseheads.

The Sea Dogs pretty much dominated the first period. After a few close misses, highlighted by a Nathan Noel bullet off the short side post behind Kevin Resop, the Dogs finally broke through late in the period. At 13:24, Dundas corralled a loose puck at the Mooseheads' blue line, skated in all alone and snapped a shot between Resop's pads. The Dogs ended the period up 1-0 and led on the shot clock 9-6.

The Mooseheads tied the game at the 0:27 mark of the second when Ehlers took a long feed from J-S Taillefer, cut around Jakub Zboril and fired the puck over Auger's glove. After killing a double minor to Juraj Siska, Chabot's point shot found the top corner at 6:53 to give Saint John the lead again. Just under two minutes later, Joseph scooped up a loose puck - after a few close in shots by Dundas and Mark Tremaine - and flipped it over a fallen Resop to extend the lead to 3-1. Shots on goal favored Saint John 16-10. 

At 6:24 of a penalty-filled third period, Watt tipped a slap pass from Morgan Nauss past Auger to make the score 3-2. After the Sea Dogs killed off a few penalties, Smallman came from behind the Mooseheads' net, snapped a shot off Resop and the rebound banked off the Dogs forward and into the net. The goal was initially called off by the referee but he was overruled after a video review. Smallman struck again with just over a minute left in the game, when he created a neutral zone turnover and scored into an empty net to set the final score. Shots favored Halifax 16-12 in the third but Saint John outshot the Mooseheads 37-32 overall.

TURNING POINT/BIG MOMENT

 After killing off a double minor early in the second period, goals by Chabot and Joseph under two minutes apart put the Sea Dogs out front to stay.

S.N. PLAYERS OF THE GAME

Thomas Chabot's goal and assist moved him into the team lead with 10 points in 9 games... which also places him tied for second in points by a defenceman in the QMJHL. He also was solid in his own end and was +1 on the night.

Nikolaj Ehlers demonstrated NHL skill and speed virtually every time he was on the ice. He is very fun to watch.

TWEET OF THE NIGHT

GGGOOOOAALLLLL!!!
— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SeaDogsHockey) October 12, 2014

STATS

NOTES

• Sea Dogs scratches were forwards Daniel Del Paggio (healthy) and Alexander Kealey (body soreness); defensemen Braydon Blight (healthy) and Jack vanBoekel (upper body); and goaltender Blade Mann-Dixon (healthy).
• Before the game, Nathan Noel was named the Sea Dogs player of the month for September, Sebastien Auger was named the student of the month, Mark Tremaine was named the hardest working forward, and vanBoekel was named the hardest working defenseman.
• After several attempts to goad Justice Dundas into a penalty, super pest Kelly Bent received instigator penalties and a couple of solid punches to the face from Dundas in the second period. On Friday evening, Bent fought former Sea Dog Oliver Cooper as well. So much for being former teammates.
• Phillippe Gadoury also received 17 minutes in penalties, after he took exception to a huge open ice hit by Adam Bateman and instigated a wrestling match with the Dogs defenseman in the third.
• The Sea Dogs power play is approaching anemic levels after going 0 for 6 on the night. However, the penalty killing units were strong again as they killed all 6 Mooseheads' power plays (Editor's Note: Watt's goal came seconds after a power play had ended) and had a least three breakaways on the night.

NEXT GAME

The Sea Dogs host the Charlottetown Islanders tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation