RECAP: Sea Dogs Lose 6-5 (OT)

FINAL: Bathurst 6, Saint John 5 (OT)

By Kevin Chambers | SN Staff

SAINT JOHN – The Saint John Sea Dogs kicked off the second half with a Monday meltdown at Harbour Station.

The Sea Dogs blew a four-goal third period lead in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan at Harbour Station. The Titan have now won four straight games while the Sea Dogs’ home woes continue.

In the first period back from the Christmas break, both teams looked a little sluggish in a frame that lacked any real type of flow. A few nice hits coming from both sides made for a physical period with limited scoring chances for both sides.

After a lackluster first period, Mathieu Joseph brought the Harbour Station faithful to their feet after one timing a Daniel Del Paggio feed past Reilly Pickard, giving the Sea Dogs the 1-0 lead one-minute into the second. Joseph would strike again - this time with his fifth shorthanded goal of the season - doubling the Sea Dogs’ lead to 2-0 at 13:26. Saint John would strike again just over a minute later when Joe Veleno banged home a rebound which gave the Sea Dogs a 3-0 advantage. Nathan Noel rounded out the second period scoring with a power play marker at 19:28, giving Saint John a commanding 4-0 lead entering the third period.

The Titan would strike early in the third after killing a Sea Dogs’ power play chance. Christophe Boivin went top shelf on Marc-Antoine Turcotte, cutting Saint John’s lead to 4-1. Mark Simpson got the Titan within two goals after ripping a shot past Turcotte at 4:23. Boivin would strike again at the 5:03 mark, getting the Titan within one after a furious start to the third period. Bathurst completed the comeback when Jeffrey Truchon-Viel scored a power play marker with just 5:37 left in the final frame. The Titan would then take the lead when Mark Simpson scored with just 3:09 remaining, giving the Titan the lead for the first time. The Sea Dogs would battle back though. With Turcotte pulled for the extra attacker, Joseph completed his hat trick and tied the game with 1:20 left in regulation.

In overtime there was plenty of back and forth action - but the Titan would ultimately get the game winner. Truchon-Viel beat Turcotte with 2:03 remaining, giving the Titan an unlikely 6-5 victory.

NOTES

• Long list of scratches for Saint John in this game: Samuel Dove-McFalls (lower body), Spencer Smallman (upper body), Matt Green (upper body), Bailey Webster (lower body), Thomas Chabot (world juniors), Jakub Zboril (world juniors), and Bokondji Imama (suspension).
• Alexandre Lafreniere of the Saint John Vito’s played in his first career QMJHL game.
• Recently traded defenseman Jason Bell dressed for the Titan, wearing No. 4.
• This is game four of 15 of Imama’s suspension.
• Ian Smallwood recorded his first career QMJHL point on the Joe Veleno goal.
• Mathieu Joseph scored his 5th shorthanded goal of the season, tying him for the QMJHL lead.
• Defenseman Vincent Martineau was also recalled before the game but did not play.
• Solid crowd of 3,496 for a rare Monday game.

TURNING POINT

Have to go all the way to overtime for this one. With both teams winning a period each, the Titan scoring in the overtime was the ultimate turning point in this game.

SN THREE STARS

Mathieu Joseph

Mark Simpson

Christophe Boivin

TWEET OF THE GAME

Ok @SJSeaDogs u know I'm a loyal season ticket holder but seriously we need some wins @ home. Free whoppers just aren't cutting it #GoDogs

— Lisa (@NBMaritimes) December 29, 2015

NEXT GAME  
The Sea Dogs are right back at it tomorrow night on the back half of this home-and-home series against the Titan. Game time is 7 p.m. in Bathurst.