RECAP: Sea Dogs lose 3-2

FINAL: Halifax 3, Saint John 2

QUISPAMSIS, NB - The Saint John Sea Dogs' perfect run at the qplex came to an end on Sunday.

The Sea Dogs, who entered the game 3-0 all-time at the at the Quispamsis complex, fell 3-2 to the Halifax Mooseheads in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League preseason play.

Justin Barron, Jared McIsaac and Brett Crossley scored for Halifax. Former Sea Dog Blade Mann-Dixon made 34 stops in the win.

Samuel Leblanc and William Poirier scored for Saint John. Alex D'Orio allowed two goals on 17 shots in the first half of the game. Matthew Williams allowed one on eight shots in the second half.

It was a fairly close game between two teams that dressed respectable lineups. Saint John generated quite a few good scoring chances - especially on the man advantage - but simply didn't have enough finish on this day. The Dogs outshot the Moose 36-25.

Saint John went to their second power play of the first period at 15:32. On the man advantage, the puck went off the crossbar and eventually past Mann-Dixon, giving Saint John a 1-0 lead. Leblanc was credited with the goal.

The Mooseheads tied the game at 1-1 just 15 seconds into the second period. Halifax then took a 2-1 lead during a five-on-three power play at 8:42.

The Sea Dogs tied things up at 11:50 of the second. Poirier was at the side of the net and, with Mann-Dixon down, beat the Moose netminder upstairs, tying the match at 2-2.

In the third, Crossley beat Williams at 15:13 to give the Mooseheads the lead. The Dogs pulled Williams in the final minute but could net the equalizer.

NOTES: Randy Jones and JP Hamel once again joined Jeff Cowan behind the Sea Dogs bench... this was Mann-Dixon's first start in the Mooseheads net since Feb. 5. He is, of course, a former Sea Dog who has played agains his old team quite a bit over the years... former Sea Dogs general manager Darrell Young was in attendance... the attendance of 732 was the smallest for a Sea Dogs game at the qplex... Radim Salda once again displayed his impressive slap shot. He looked good again, also drawing a penalty.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the Moncton Wildcats on Thursday, Sept. 14 at the Aitken Centre in Fredericton.