The Moncton Wildcats edged the Sea Dogs 6-4 in a back-and-forth affair at Harbour Station. The Sea Dogs never trailed until late in the second - and they were never able to even things up or take the lead again.
The loss officially eliminated the Sea Dogs from playoff contention, even with three games remaining on their schedule. Saint John will finish with just eight home wins all season, which is a franchise low.
Jeremy McKenna scored twice for Moncton while singles came from Alexander Khovanov, James Phelan, Anderson MacDonald and Brady Pataki. Mark Grametbauer made 34 stops in the win.
Cole Reginato, playing in his final game at Harbour Station, scored two goals for Saint John. Anthony Boucher and Cedric Pare also netted goals. Alex D'Orio made 28 saves in the loss.
Reginato scored his second goal in as many nights, giving Saint John an early 1-0 lead at 41 seconds. The overage forward toe dragged around the stick of a Moncton defender before ripping the puck past Grametbauer.
Moncton quickly tied the game. Just 35 seconds after Reginato's goal, Khovanov fired a one timer past an outstretched D'Orio to make it 1-1.
Boucher put Saint John back in front at 15:41. With William Poirier providing a screen, Boucher fired a wrister past Grametbauer to make it 2-1 in favour of the Sea Dogs.
Moncton scored early in the second period to tie things up. Just 46 seconds in, Phelan netted his 29th of the season, making it a 2-2 affair.
Reginato scored his second of the game at 4:34 to put Saint John back in front, 3-2. The 20-year-old was behind the net and reached out in front, sliding the disc under a surprised Grametbauer to put the Dogs back up by a goal.
Moncton tied the game with 2:23 remaining in the second when MacDonald netted a power play goal. Then with seven seconds remaining in the frame, McKenna scored on a power play to give the Wildcats their first lead of the night.
McKenna was in front at 3:58 of the third period and redirected a Khovanov shot, extending Moncton's lead to 5-3. It was the first time either team led by two or more goals.
Pare got Saint John back within one at 4:40, jamming the puck through the pads of Grametbauer.
The Wildcats were awarded a power play at 19:22 and Sea Dogs head coach Josh Dixon lost it, breaking a stick over the boards and was tossed. Moncton finished off the scoring at 19:37 on the ensuing power play when a Pataki shot went off Radim Salda's leg and over D'Orio, making it a 6-4 final.
LINEUP
SCRATCHESHere's a look at tonight's @CantrburyDental #SJSeaDogs lineup.#AlwaysWearYourMouthGuard pic.twitter.com/L8TWmPjCUi— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) March 10, 2018
The Sea Dogs were without forwards Yohan Plamondon (upper body), Matt Green (upper body), Landon Quinney (upper body) and Nicholas Deakin-Poot (upper body); defenceman Tyler Hungerbuhler (healthy); and goaltender Matthew Williams (injured).
NOTES
There was a pre-game ceremony to recognize Saint John's three overage players - Bailey Webster, Cole Reginato and Brendan O'Reilly... all three overage players picked up points on Saint John's opening goal... with Matthew Williams injured, Tommy DaSilva was Alex D'Orio's backup... both teams scored on their first shots on goal... Saint John scored first for the fourth time in the past five games... O'Reilly recorded his first point - an assist on Reginato's first period goal - since Dec. 16... Cedric Pare recorded a goal and two assists... Pare recorded his first point since Feb. 10... Anderson MacDonald scored his first goal against Saint John this season.
NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs are in Halifax to face the Mooseheads on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
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