After failing to beat the likes of the Charlottetown Islanders, Chicoutimi Sagueneens, Val-d'Or Foreurs, etc., the Saint John Sea Dogs were able to end their nine-game losing streak with a thrilling, come-from-behind 5-4 overtime win over one of the league's top teams, the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, on Sunday afternoon at Harbour Station.
Radim Salda scored on a power play at 1:25 of overtime to give the Sea Dogs their first victory since Oct. 6. After weeks of bad luck and losing games they should have won, it seemed fitting that the squad ended their streak with a come-from-behind win over one of the league's best.
The Sea Dogs were down 4-2 with 12:20 remaining in regulation time. Ostap Safin scored twice in the third to send the game to overtime. Anthony Boucher and Cole Reginato also scored. Matthew Williams made 26 stops to earn his first QMJHL win.
Peter Abbandonato, Tyler Hinam, Mathieu Boucher and Jacob Neveu scored for Rouyn-Noranda. Samuel Harvey made 24 saves in the loss.
After a good opening minute by the Sea Dogs, the Huskies opened the scoring at 1:05 on their first shot of the game. Abbandonato sped past the Saint John defence and beat Williams five-hole, making it 1-0.
Saint John went to a power play at 1:35. At 1:59, Salda fired a high shot from the point that was deflected by Boucher and past Harvey blocker side, tying the match at 1-1. The goal was given to Salda originally but later awarded to Boucher.
Salda joined William Poirier in the box at 16:11, giving the Huskies a 53-second five-on-three. The Sea Dogs produced a solid penalty kill and were given a loud applause by Sunday's small Harbour Station crowd.
The Huskies took a 2-1 lead at 8:52 of the second when Hinam wristed a shot past Williams on a two-on-one rush.
The Sea Dogs tied the game at 2-2 soon after at 11:51. Reginato had the puck and showed some nice patience, skating in closer and wristing a shot top corner past Harvey.
Rouyn-Noranda would carry a 3-2 lead after two thanks to a goal from Boucher at 16:03. A pass from the line by Hinam found Boucher down low who shook off a Saint John defender and beat a stretched out Williams.
Just 3:15 into the third, Neveu fired a shot from the line the went through some traffic and past Williams, giving Rouyn-Noranda a 4-2 advantage.
Saint John got back within one during some four-on-four play at 7:40. After a Joe Veleno faceoff win, Safin grabbed the puck, skated behind the net and then fired a shot from the bottom of the circle that hit some traffic in front and beat Harvey.
Then, on a power play at 9:07, Safin fired a wrist shot from the circle that beat Huskies 'tender, tying things up at 4-4.
30 seconds into overtime, Taylor Ford was called for slashing to send Saint John to a power play. At 1:25, a Salda wrister flew past Harvey, giving the Dogs the win and extra point.
LINEUP
SCRATCHESHere is this afternoon's lineup for your #SJSeaDogs vs. @HuskiesRn brought to you by @CantrburyDental #AlwaysWearYourMouthGuard pic.twitter.com/6wivSyQKjg— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 29, 2017
The Sea Dogs once again juggled their lines and lineup. Scratches were defenceman Samuel Duchesne (healthy); and forwards Daniel Hardie (healthy), Robbie Burt (healthy), Alexandre Lafreniere (healthy) and Ben Reid (healthy).
NOTES
Former Saint John Flames goaltender Danny Sabourin is now the video and goaltending coach for the Huskies... Cole Reginato has four goals in his past five games... Matthew Williams made just his third appearance of the season... with Cedric Pare's fight, the Sea Dogs now have 10 tilts on the season. Surprisingly, that's a league high, according to HockeyFights.com... Bailey Webster returned to the lineup after missing Saturday's game with the flu. He had a rough afternoon, finishing the game a -4... Joe Veleno had three assists... Radim Salda had a goal and two assists... Ostap Safin had two goals and two assists... Saint John went 3/6 on the power play. The Huskies entered the game with the third best penalty kill in the league... it was a physical game with hits ending 18-16 in favour of Rouyn-Noranda... the Huskies had a rough go in the Maritimes, winning just one of their three games - and that came in overtime... Sunday's win moves the Dogs ahead of Shawinigan in the league's basement.
HIGHLIGHTS
NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs are in Baie-Comeau on Thursday to face the Drakkar. It's the first game of a three-in-three Quebec road swing.
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