RECAP: Sea Dogs Win 3-1

FINAL: Saint John 3, Victoriaville 1

VICTORIAVILLE, Que. – A challenging road trip got off to a good start for the Saint John Sea Dogs on Wednesday night.

Matthew Highmore scored with 1:12 remaining in regulation time and added an empty netter to give the Sea Dogs (20-6-1-4) a 3-1 win over the Victoriaville Tigres (17-11-1-3) at Colisee Desjardins.

Justice Dundas also scored for the Sea Dogs while Sebastien Auger made 24 saves in the victory. The Sea Dogs, coming off a three-in-three sweep, have now won four straight games and have picked up at least a point in six straight.

Victoriaville’s only goal came from Jordan Ty Fournier in the first period. Chase Marchand made 22 stops in the loss.

Fournier’s goal came at 9:46 of the first period as he cut in front and beat Auger glove side to open the scoring. Play was fairly even in the first period with shots at eight apiece.

In the second, Dundas evened things up at 1-1 at 15:54, beating Marchand glove side with a wrist shot. The Dogs killed off a couple Tigres power plays in the second stanza and were outshot 10-8.

In the third, Saint John killed off a couple early penalties to keep the game tied. At 16:46, the Sea Dogs went to the man advantage. Two seconds after it expired, Highmore was credited with a goal to give Saint John their first lead of the evening. Highmore added an empty netter to make it a 3-1 final. Shots were 9-7 Saint John in the third and 25-25 overall.

STATS

NOTES

• The Sea Dogs were without defensemen Jakub Zboril (Czech Republic world junior camp) and Braydon Blight (sick) along with forwards Matthew Green (healthy) and Alex Kealey (body soreness).
• Former Sea Dog Nikita Li was in the Tigres lineup. He finished the game with one shot and went 2-for-6 on face-offs.
• These two teams entered the game as the two best penalty killing squads in the league. Neither team allowed a power play goal, each killing off four attempts.
• Only five Sea Dogs didn’t have a shot in this game.
• With 20 victories, Saint John now has more wins this season than they had all of last.
• Justice Dundas scored his first goal since Nov. 21.
• This was Matthew Highmore’s first multi-point game of the season.

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs head to Rouyn-Noranda to battle the Huskies at 8:30 p.m. on Friday.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation