RECAP: Sea Dogs Win 5-2

FINAL: Saint John 5, Bathurst 2

By Lorne Webster | SN Staff

BATHURST - In their first game following the QMJHL’s winter trade deadline, the Saint John Sea Dogs beat the Acadie-Bathurst Titan 5-2 at the KC Irving Regional Centre on Saturday. Less than two weeks after squandering back-to-back four-goal leads against Bathurst, the Sea Dogs played better defensively and came away with a strong road win.   

Adam Marsh, Sam Povorozniouk, Dan Del Paggio, Matt Highmore and Nathan Noel scored for Saint John. Jeffrey Truchon-Viel replied with a pair for Bathurst.  

1st Period

The Sea Dogs had a territorial advantage in the first period and came away with a 2-0 lead after one. At 7:39, Marsh cut across the high slot and wired a wrist shot over Marc Audet's shoulder. At 16:32, Povorozniouk stole the puck behind the Titan's net, walked out front and snapped the puck between Audet's legs. That goal prompted Mario Pouliot to replace Audet with Reilly Pickard in goal.  

2nd Period

New Sea Dogs defenceman Matt Paul made a great first impression, especially in the second period. Before the 30 second mark, Paul blocked a shot in his own end, chased the puck into the Titan's zone and his pass out front was deflected into the net by Del Paggio. Then at 13:09, Paul stepped around a defender and his point shot banked off Highmore and past Pickard. At 19:02, Truchon-Viel one-timed a nice saucer pass from Mark Simpson past Marc-Antoine Turcotte to make score 4-1 in favour of Saint John. 

   

3rd Period

Audet returned to the crease to start the third period. At 6:48, Noel's wrist shot from the slot eluded Audet to restore a four-goal lead for Saint John. At 10:04, Truchon-Viel broke down the left wing a fired a heavy wrist shot that beat Turcotte through the five hole to get the hosts back to 5-2. Following that goal, the Sea Dogs bore down on defence to keep the Titan at bay.     

NOTES

• The Sea Dogs welcomed back Thomas Chabot (WJC - Canada) and Jakub Zboril (WJC - Czech Republic) - both of whom performed well in the recent World Junior Hockey Championship in Finland. Also, centre Matt Green returned to the lineup after missing nearly three months with an upper body injury.
• Left winger Cole Reginato (No. 37) and defenceman Matt Paul (No. 28) - both who had been claimed off waivers from Cape Breton on Thursday - made their first appearances in Sea Dogs uniforms. Right wing Cody Grant (No. 26) also played his first regular season game with Saint John after being recalled from the St. Stephen County Aces of the MHL. 
• The Sea Dogs were missing Bokondji Imama (suspension - game 9/15), Bailey Webster (upper body), Samuel Dove-McFalls (lower body) and Oliver Felixson (injury). Webster will be seeing a specialist this week and it appears that he will be out of the line-up for an extended period, according to 96.1 NewSong FM’s pre-game show.
• Gabriel Bettez (a 6'3" and 210 pound defenceman acquired from Baie-Comeau), free agent defenceman Mark Kennedy and rookie right winger Nico Blachman were available but did not dress.
• Former Sea Dogs centre Dawson Theede faced Saint John for the first time, after being traded to Bathurst on Jan. 4. 
• The Titan were missing Guillaume Brisebois, Antoine Morand, Egor Popov, Elijah Francis and former Sea Dog Jason Bell.
• Elsewhere in the Maritimes Division on Saturday - CHA 3 - RIM 1 / MON 5 - CBSE 4 / GAT 8 - HAL 4.   


TURNING POINT

A dominant penalty kill by Saint John to start the third period - in which the Titan barely crossed the Sea Dogs blue line for a full two minutes - essentially quelled thoughts of another Bathurst comeback.  

HIT OF THE GAME

Early in the third period, former Sea Dog Dawson Theede lowered the boom on Alex Bernier. 

SN PLAYERS OF THE GAME

Matt Paul

Jeffrey Truchon-Viel

Marc-Antoine Turcotte

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs return to Harbour Station on Sunday to face the Rimouski Oceanic at 3 p.m.