RECAP: Sea Dogs Win 4-1

FINAL: Quebec 1, Saint John 4

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs recovered from a losing streak to defeat the highly skilled Quebec Remparts 4-1 Saturday evening at Harbour Station.

Alex D’Orio was simply outstanding by turning in a 44-save performance to lead the Sea Dogs to victory. Anthony Boucher had two goals for Saint John while Ostap Safin and Robbie Burt each added a single. Radim Salda chipped in with three assists and was strong in the defensive zone as well.

Pascal Laberge scored for the Remparts. Dereck Baribeau made 22 saves in the loss.

NOTES

• Laberge opened the scoring at 19:14 on the first – on Quebec’s third power play of the opening frame – when he broke into the high slot and rifled a wrist shot over D’Orio’s shoulder.
• Boucher got the Sea Dogs on the board at 4:33 of the second period. Salda broke down the left wing, faked a shot and sent a cross-ice pass to Boucher, who in turn wired a wrist shot past a sprawling Baribeau.
• At 9:11 of the second – on Saint John’s first power play of the evening – Safin took a cross-ice pass from Cedric Pare and unleashed a laser to the top shelf over Baribeau’s glove.
• Less than a minute later – with Remparts defender Benjamin Gagne on the ice with an apparent injury – the Sea Dogs entered the Quebec zone on a three-on-one break. Boucher finished off a nice passing play at 9:56 when he one-timed a pass from Pare past Baribeau to put the hosts up 3-1.
• Burt showed his outstanding offensive skills with a lovely deke to the forehand on a breakaway to score a shorthanded goal at 12:29 of the third.
• In recognition of the Sea Dogs Faith and Family Night, NHL Hall of Famer Mike Gartner dropped the puck in a ceremonial face-off prior to the game.
• The Sea Dogs' tough stretch of games against elite teams has been made even more challenging with only three players over the age of 18 available to play. The young Sea Dogs appear to miss the leadership of veterans Cole Reginato, Matt Green and Landon Quinney, who, in addition to Nicholas Deakin-Poot and Ben Reid, are all on the injury list.
• Despite only being assessed a minor penalty Friday evening – much to the chagrin of the Sea Dogs faithful – Acadie-Bathurst Titan forward Cole Rafuse was given a two-game suspension for his head shot on Ben Reid.
• With five forwards on the injured list, defenceman Alexis Girard made his debut as a winger.
• Joe Veleno – who earlier this week was named one of the captains for the CHL Top Prospect game – scored his first goals in a Drummondville Voltigeurs uniform, as part of a two goal, two assist performance Saturday afternoon. Veleno now has 15 points in 10 games since his trade from Saint John. 
• Former Sea Dogs first round draft choice Olivier Mathieu made his return to Harbour Station - but in a Remparts uniform. Mathieu was a key part of the trade to acquire goaltender Callum Booth last season. Booth is off to an excellent start in his professional career with 13 wins, a 2.43 GAA and a .911 save percentage for the Florida Everblades in the ECHL.

LINEUP

Here is tonight's #SJSeaDogs lineup, brought to you by @CantrburyDental. #AlwaysWearYourMouthGuard pic.twitter.com/N6kfLbVtNP

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) January 20, 2018

SCRATCHES
The Sea Dogs were without goaltender Matthew Williams (injured); and forwards Matt Green (upper body), Cole Reginato (lower body), Nick Deakin-Poot (upper body), Landon Quinney (upper body) and Ben Reid (upper body).

TURNING POINT 
A pair of goals by the Sea Dogs, in under a minute before the midpoint of the second period, gave the young Sea Dogs not only the lead but a much needed boost in confidence.

SN STARS OF THE GAME 
1. Alex D’Orio
2. Radim Salda
3. Anthony Boucher

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs begin a three-in-three road trip this Friday in Bathurst.