Maxime Fortier netted a pair of goals while singles came from Filip Zadina and Xavier Parent. Alexis Gravel was solid in the Halifax net, making 31 saves in the win.
Daniel Hardie's first goal as a Sea Dog would be Saint John's only marker of the night. Alex D'Orio made 24 saves in the loss.
Neither teams looked spectacular in the CHL's first game of the 2017-18 season. Neither were awful, either, but there's certainly plenty to improve upon on both sides. If the Sea Dogs had been able to capitalize on more on their scoring chances, the score - or the result - could have been different.
Not a whole lot happened in the first period. Both teams looked rusty and sloppy for a lot of it. The Sea Dogs definitely had the edge in puck possession - but didn't do a whole lot. Cedric Pare had the best chance of the period, nearly beating Gravel in close.
Bailey Webster was called for cross checking at 4:44 of the second period. On the ensuing power play at 5:23, D'Orio was caught down in a scramble which allowed Zadina to accept a pass from the behind the net and score into an open net.
At 10:31, Alexis Girard went to the box for interference. William Poirier generated a couple of shorthanded chances but couldn't quite connect.
With Girard still in the box, Parent scored at 12:16 to make it 2-0 Mooseheads. After passing the puck around, Parent fired from the top of the circle and beat D'Orio glove side through a screen.
Saint John had a one-minute five-on-three power play late in the second. The Dogs could only generate one solid scoring chance though despite moving the puck around okay.
Soon after Halifax's penalties expired, Fortier scored on a long breakaway and made a nice deke to his forehand. That made it 3-0 Moose at 17:25.
In the final minute, Poirier cut through the crease and nearly scored but was robbed by the glove of Gravel.
Just 2:28 into the third period, the Mooseheads scored their third power play goal of the game when Fortier beat D'Orio blocker side.
Saint John got on the board with a power play goal at 4:41. On a two-on-one, Ostap Safin fed Hardie who then beat Gravel with a wrist shot from the slot, making it a 4-1 game. The Dogs nearly scored again shortly after when Joe Veleno banked a shot off Gravel and in. But, the net was clearly off, and the goal was called off.
Safin was awarded a penalty shot with 10:48 remaining in the third. On his free chance, the Czech forward made a few fake moves before ripping the puck high of the net.
SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without goaltender Matthew Williams; defenceman Nathan Larose; and forwards Samuel Leblanc and Ben Reid.
NOTES: The Sea Dogs raised their 2017 President Cup championship banner to the rafters before the game... Josh Dixon made his regular season coaching debut with the Sea Dogs... Joe Veleno was announced as team captain before the game. Cole Reginato, Bailey Webster and Anthony Boucher were named alternates... Peter McDevitt returned as Sea Dogs public address announcer... Halifax's Jared McIsaac did not play in the third period due to an upper body injury... the announced crowd was 5,349.
NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
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