Charlottetown's penalty kill entered the game with a league best rating of 94.4% but struggled on Friday, giving up four goals in a 4-0 loss to the Sea Dogs.
The Islanders' penalty kill had been one of the few bright spots for the team so far this season. Charlottetown has just one win - and overtime victory in Saint John - and has scored just six goals in six games. They are now 1-5 on the season.
Meanwhile, the Sea Dogs have turned around their early season struggles, winning their third straight. Saint John is now 3-3-1-0 after a 0-4 start.
Saint John's offence was once agin led by Ostap Safin (two goals and an assist) and Daniel Hardie (one goal and one assist). Kevin Gursoy also scored while Joe Veleno and Radim Salda each had two assists.
Cody Porter earned his first QMJHL win and shutout, making 28 saves.
The Sea Dogs once again had a strong first period, firing 18 shots at Islanders netminder Dakota Lund-Cornish. Just 5:06 in and with Saint John on the power play, Safin ripped a wrist shot past the Isles 'tender from the circle, making it 1-0.
It was a penalty filled opening frame. With Sullivan Sparkes in the box, Gursoy beat Lund-Cornish five hole to give the Dogs a 2-0 advantage.
On another power play at 2:44 of the second, a Safin pass from the line found Hardie down low, who then made quick work of beating Lund-Cornish in close. That made it 3-0 Sea Dogs.
Saint John had a couple of great chances late in the frame. Anthony Boucher had a wide open net but fired a backhand shot wide. Them with 1:12 left, Lund-Cornish robbed Veleno with a big glove save.
At 7:54 of the third, Safin fired a wrist shot from the slot that went in to make it 4-0. That goal came on the man advantage as well.
The Islanders applied some pressure late in the third, but Porter made a few lovely saves to maintain the shutout.
LINEUP
SCRATCHESTonight's #SJSeaDogs lineup brought to you by @CantrburyDental. #AlwaysWearYourMouthguard pic.twitter.com/JgSz1hXR8n— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 6, 2017
The Sea Dogs were without goaltender Alex D'Orio; defenceman Marcus Tesink; and forwards Cole Reginato (lower body), Samuel Leblanc (upper body), Matt Green (upper body) and Nick Deakin-Poot (healthy).
NOTES
Josh Dixon picked up his first win as Sea Dogs head coach... Ostap Safin now has three goals and five assists... Daniel Hardie now has four goals and six assists... Alex D'Orio did not dress for this game. Matt Williams backed up Cody Porter... Safin had seven shots in the game... it's incredibly early, but Saint John now sits third in the Maritimes Division, just three points back of the division leading Wildcats.
NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs host the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Harbour Station.
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