RECAP: Sea Dogs lose 7-1

FINAL: Saint John 1, Moncton 7

MONCTON - The Saint John Sea Dogs will have to play in Sunday morning's fifth-place game to close out the 2017 QMJHL Rookie Challenge.

The Sea Dogs fell to 0-2 at this year's Maritimes Division event following a 7-1 loss to the Moncton Wildcats on Saturday night at the Superior Propane Centre.

Ben Reid scored Saint John's lone goal - which came late in the third period when the Wildcats were already up 6-0. Stewart Bagnell, who played well on Friday, allowed five goals on 11 shots in the loss. Joel Goguen, who played the second half of the game, allowed two goals on 14 shots.

Jakob Pelletier, the third overall pick in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft, had a hat trick for the Wildcats. Daniil Kuzmin scored twice while singles came from Jaxon Bellamy and G. Blackmore. Philippe Gaudreault made 38 stops in the win.

Saint John didn't play all that badly at times - especially in the first period. The Sea Dogs outshot the Wildcats 12-8 in the opening frame and 39-25 overall. The Wildcats certainly deserve some credit, scoring a few very nice goals.

The loss means Saint John will take on the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in Sunday's fifth-place game. Puck drop is scheduled for 10 a.m.

The third-place game, which takes place at 1 p.m., will feature the Charlottetown Islanders and Acadie-Bathurst Titan. The 4 p.m. championship contest will be between the Halifax Mooseheads and Wildcats.