The Sea Dogs have now lost three straight one-goal games - and four straight matches overall - following a 4-3 overtime loss to the Moncton Wildcats.
Like their previous two loses, the Sea Dogs played well enough to win but simply couldn't outscore their opposition. Saint John's offence was able to score more than it has recently, though, even taking a third period lead for a short time.
The Sea Dogs aren't catching many breaks these days. Saint John, up 3-2 near the midway mark of the third, could have taken a 4-2 lead if Landon Quinney's shot had gone in rather than hitting the post. A two-goal lead at that moment could have changed the final result as the Wildcats ended up tying the game a short time later. That's the kind of puck luck the Sea Dogs have had over the past week or so.
Cedric Pare scored twice for Saint John while Robbie Burt recorded his first QMJHL goal. Matt Williams, making his first QMJHL start, played very well in the loss, making 25 saves.
Brady Pataki scored twice for Moncton while singles came from Julien Tessier and Mika Cyr. Mark Grametbauer made 32 stops in the win.
The Wildcats wasted little time opening the scoring. Just 37 seconds in on a three-on-one, Dylan Seitz fed an open Pataki who converted on Moncton's first shot of the game. That made it 1-0.
It was a penalty filled first period with not a whole lot of even strength time. But, while at even strength at 15:03, Joe Veleno fed Burt who tapped in his first QMJHL goal, tying the match up at 1-1.
Saint John had a great opportunity to take the lead at 6:08 of the second when they were awarded a five-on-three power play. Despite some good pressure, the Dogs could not generate many scoring opportunities.
There weren't a whole lot of stoppages in the second with shots ending 12-7 in favour of Saint John. The Dogs were 0/6 on the power play through two.
1:37 into the third, a pass from near the sideboards found Pataki in front. Pataki deposited the puck into the net before Williams could react, making it 2-1 Moncton.
Saint John responded at 2:18 when Pare fired a quick wrist shot past Grametbauer. Then, at 6:14, Saint John finally connected on a power play when Pare redirected a Radim Salda shot. That gave the Sea Dogs their first lead of the game.
Quinney nearly made it 4-2 one minute later but hit the post. That turned out to be important as Moncton tied things back up at 8:58 thanks to a goal from Tessier, a former Dog.
Late in the game, Williams came up huge by robbing Jakob Pelletier and Cyr on back-to-back chances.
Moncton needed just 58 seconds to end the game in overtime courtesy of a Cyr goal.
LINEUP
SCRATCHESHere's this afternoon's #SJSeaDogs lineup, brought to you by @CantrburyDental. #AlwaysWearYourMouthguard pic.twitter.com/XOl8IFIiIK— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 15, 2017
The Sea Dogs were without goaltender Cody Porter (healthy); defenceman Samuel Duchesne; and forwards Cole Reginato (suspended), Kevin Gursoy (healthy), Samuel Leblanc (healthy) and Alexandre Lafreniere (healthy).
NOTES
The Sea Dogs made some big swaps with their lineup, inserting all the players - except goaltender Cody Porter - who were healthy scratches on Saturday... Cole Reginato was suspended for this game after picking up an aggressor game misconduct on Saturday... after playing in front of a couple hundred friends and family at Harbour Station on Saturday, Moncton's Jaxon Bellamy was a healthy scratch on Sunday... the Sea Dogs are 0-2-1-0 against the Wildcats this season... Moncton improved to 5-0 at home... the Wildcats now sit alone in first overall with a 8-1-2 record... another two points for Daniel Hardie... after being a healthy scratch on Saturday, Robbie Burt was inserted into Saint John's top line with Hardie and Joe Veleno... it was good to see the Sea Dogs not get rattled by allowing a goal 37 seconds into the game.
NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs take on the Islanders in Charlottetown on Thursday at 7 p.m.
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