RECAP: Sea Dogs win 5-0

FINAL: Moncton 0, Saint John 5

SAINT JOHN – Big things were expected from Matthew Highmore this season – and he has delivered.

The overage forward had another big night on Saturday at Harbour Station, scoring once and adding two assists in Saint John’s 5-0 victory over the Moncton Wildcats. Highmore now has three goals and four assists in just four games this season.

Highmore has been a huge driver of Sea Dogs offence so far this year. Of Saint John’s 13 goals this season, Highmore has either scored or assisted on seven of them.

Along with Highmore, Nathan Noel (two), Spencer Smallman and Cedric Pare scored for Saint John on Saturday. Alex Bishop made 26 saves in the shutout win.

Moncton’s Keven Bouchard made 26 saves in the loss.

The notes…

• Before the scoring started in the first, both teams had good chances. Joseph sped past the Moncton defence and went in alone and, not long after, Manuel Wiederer had a break but could not score.
• Noel opened the scoring at 14:29 while on a four-on-three power play. Joseph fed him the puck down low and Noel cut through the top of crease, potting the puck past the pad of Bouchard.
• There were a lot of penalties in the opening frame. Saint John went 1/3 on the power play while Moncton went 0/3.
• The Sea Dogs struck again on the power play early in the second. Joseph fed Smallman at the dot who then wired the puck past Bouchard at 1:29, making it 2-0.
• Then at 11:12, Highmore ripped a wrist shot past Bouchard to make it 3-0.
• Saint John’s fourth line got in on the scoring in the third. Cole Reginato skated behind the net and threw it in front. Pare was on the other side of the net and scored his first Q goal, making it 4-0 at 13:00.
• With 18 seconds left in regulation and the Sea Dogs shorthanded, Noel stripped Zach Malatesta of the puck in the offensive zone and then fired a shot over Bouchard’s glove, making it a 5-0 final.
• Plenty of penalties in this game: Saint John went 2/8 on the power play while Moncton went 0/6.
• Noel’s goals were his first and second of the season.
• Before Highmore’s second period goal, Joseph had been involved in the past five Sea Dogs goals.
• Alexandre Bernier has two assists in four games this year. He had three assists in 27 games last season.
• Bishop’s last and only previous QMJHL shutout came on Feb. 25 of last season against Halifax. He made 32 saves in that game.
• This was Moncton’s first road game of the season. Meanwhile, the Sea Dogs improved to 2-0-0-0 on home ice.
• Wednesday’s Sea Dogs game will be their last home contest until Oct. 19 against Bathurst.

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without Luke Green (Winnipeg Jets camp), Jakub Zboril (Boston Bruins camp), Thomas Chabot (Ottawa Senators camp), Gabriel Bettez (upper body), John Warren (upper body), Chase Stewart (suspension) and Daniel Del Paggio (healthy – fourth 20-year-old).

LINES: With Stewart suspended, Kyle Ward was used as a defenceman. Samuel Leblanc drew in as, essentially, a 13^th forward.

Veleno - Highmore - Joseph

Smallman - Noel - Grzelewski

Imama - McFalls - Green

Reginato - Pare - Leblanc

Bernier - Webster

Felixson - Ward

Michel - Martineau

Bishop

D’Orio

TURNING POINT

The Sea Dogs constantly pressuring on power plays early in the game seemed to put the match into Saint John’s favour.

SN PLAYERS OF THE GAME

1. Matthew Highmore

2. Mathieu Joseph

3. Nathan Noel

TWEET OF THE NIGHT

The Sea Dogs have scored their third goal of the night! Fans get 40% off pizzas online at https://t.co/dfh3yLGucw! Use promo code SEADOGS40!

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 1, 2016

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs host the Gatineau Olympiques on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.