RECAP: Sea Dogs win 5-3

FINAL: Halifax 3, Saint John 5

Kevin Chambers | SN Staff

SAINT JOHN – The Saint John Sea Dogs closed our their regular season home schedule on Saturday night, defeating the Halifax Mooseheads 5-3.

Goal scorers for the Sea Dogs were Cole Reginato, Thomas Chabot, Samuel Dove-McFalls, Spencer Smallman and Joe Veleno. Alex D’Orio picked up the win for the Sea Dogs, stopping 27 shots.

Answering for the Mooseheads were Otto Somppi (two) and Raphael Lavoie. Alexis Gravel took the loss for the Mooseheads, managing to stop 21 shots.

To the notes…

• The Mooseheads got on the scoreboard first at 9:10 of the opening frame when Otto Somppi lifted a shot in tight up and over starter D’Orio.
• Reginato would even things at a goal apiece, tapping home a feed from Dove-McFalls through the five hole of Gravel at 16:16.
• Somppi would get his second of the period at 18:13. The Mooseheads skated in on a two-on-one play and Somppi finished it off by firing a wrist shot by D’Orio.
• Next it was time for the Thomas Chabot show as he provided another one of his highlight reel coast-to-coast skates before beating Gravel up high at 9:02 of the second, tying the game 2-2.
• The Sea Dogs didn’t keep fans waiting long for the go ahead goal as Dove-McFalls jumped on a loose puck and fired it past Gravel at 9:20 to make it 3-2 Dogs.
• Smallman would continue the Sea Dogs' push at 11:48, finishing off a two-on-ome rush after taking a feed from Veleno.
• Veleno put the polish on an excellent second period by the Sea Dogs, tipping home a Simon Bourque point shot and extending the lead to 5-2 at 18:02.
• Lavoie was credited with a goal that was deflected in front of D’Orio to close the gap to 5-3 at 9:20 of the third period. That would be as close as the Moose would get.
• The Sea Dogs held a pre-game ceremony to recognize their three overage players: Spencer Smallman, Matthew Highmore and Bokondji Imama. Each player had a brief video tribute, received jerseys from their parents and had a standing ovation from the crowd.
• Oliver Felixson was given a standing ovation when it was announced that today was his 19th birthday.
• This marked the first time this season that Chabot has faced the Mooseheads.

LINEUP

Here is tonight's lineup for your #SJSeaDogs! Brought to you by @CantrburyDental #AlwaysWearYourMouthGuard pic.twitter.com/EvjjguNxB9

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) March 11, 2017

SCRATCHES
The Sea Dogs were without Julien Gauthier (lower body), Oliver Felixson, Landon Quinney and David Comeau.

TURNING POINT
Thomas Chabot and Samuel Dove-McFalls scoring 18 seconds apart in the second period, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead for the Sea Dogs.

SN PLAYERS OF THE GAME
1. Spencer Smallman
2. Matthew Highmore
3. Bokondji Imama

TWEET OF THE GAME
The Mayor of Saint John knows ya gotta stay outta the box.

@SJSeaDogs night. Up 4-2 over Halifax. Need to stay out of the box to win a championship

— Don Darling (@dondarlingSJ) March 12, 2017

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs can clinch the regular season title with a win in Moncton this Wednesday. Game time is 7 p.m.