RECAP: Sea Dogs lose 5-4 (SO)

FINAL: Saint John 4, Shawinigan 5 (SO)

SHAWINIGAN, Que. - The Saint John Sea Dogs overcame an ugly first period on Thursday night at Centre Gervais Auto only to come up short in a shootout.

In a game that could prove to be critical in the race for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's final playoff spot, the Sea Dogs came out flat but erased a four-goal deficit in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Shawinigan Cataractes.

Shawinigan was rolling in the third period with a 4-1 lead but seemed to fall asleep at the midway mark. Saint John scored three times in the final 10 minutes of regulation - which included William Poirier tying the game on a scramble in the crease with 49 seconds remaining.

Saint John killed off a penalty in overtime and then Poirier had a glorious chance to win the game on a penalty shot but fired wide. Both goaltenders were strong in the shootout - but Justin Blanchette was one save better to secure the win for the home side.

The Sea Dogs now sit two points back of the Cataractes - who currently own the league's final playoff spot. Both teams have 19 games remaining in their schedules, so there's time for Saint John to climb over Shawinigan - but wins haven't been easy to come by of late. Saint John has now lost six straight - all of which have come against Quebec based teams. The team still has two games to go in this odd stretch of eight straight matches against non-Maritimes teams.

Aiden MacIntosh, Filip Prikryl and Nicholas Deakin-Poot also scored for Saint John. Robbie Burt had three assists. Zachary Bouthillier was pulled in the first period after allowing three goals on six shots - but Saint John's defense also shares some blame for the team's rough start. Mikhail Denisov was strong in relief, making 32 stops.

Xavier Bourgault, Jan Drozg, Valentin Nussbaumer and Vincent Senez scored for Shawinigan. Blanchette made 28 stops in the win.

LINEUP

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Christian Clark, James White and Maxim Cajkovic; along with defenseman Patrick Musico.

NOTES: 16-year-olds Dawson Stairs and Alex Drover were both brought up from the MHL... the Sea Dogs had a 16-year-old player on each of their forward lines and defense pairings... Shawinigan's blue and yellow retro jerseys are awesome... Robbie Burt and William Poirier both played in their first games since Jan. 20... the start of the third period was delayed after an alarm forced the building to evacuate in the middle of the second intermission... both meetings between these two this season were decided in a shootout - with the home team winning both times... Saint John erased a 4-2 deficit in the first meeting - which also ended 5-4 in a shootout... official attendance was 3,874 but there was definitely far fewer than that actually in attendance.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs take on the Remparts in Quebec City on Friday at 8 p.m.