Bouthillier was brilliant in the Sea Dogs net, making several spectacular saves to earn his first shutout win since the 2017-18 season when he was a member of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. In typical Bouthillier fashion, he had a few adventures with the puck, but the bounces were on his side all game long.
Defenseman Kale McCallum scored the lone goal of the game, beating Wildcats netminder Dakota Lund-Cornish following a great feed from Jeffrey Durocher.
The Wildcats had plenty of scoring chances but simply couldn't beat Bouthillier. Their frustration showed throughout the game, especially in the third period when they recorded 15 shots.
Lund-Cornish, making his second start with the Wildcats, made 25 saves in the loss.
The win pushed Saint John back to the .500 mark with an 18-18-1-0 record. They also improved to 3-1 against the Wildcats this season.
The Sea Dogs website has a full game recap.
LINEUP
SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Nicholas Deakin-Poot (upper body), Maxim Cajkovic (world juniors) and Alexis Belisle (healthy); and defenseman Brendan Sibley (healthy).Here's a look at today's projected Sea Dogs lineup, brought to you by @CantrburyDental. #AlwaysWearYourMouthguard pic.twitter.com/fCBStJB7uT— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) December 29, 2019
CALL UPS: The Sea Dogs announced before Sunday's game that the forward Charles Savoie and defenseman Brendan Sibley have been called up for the remainder of the season.
Savoie, a second round pick of the Sea Dogs in June's QMJHL Entry Draft, played on Sunday along with Saturday's game in Bathurst. Sibley, 18, has spent most of the past two seasons with Saint John but has been playing with the MHL's Yarmouth Mariners this year. Sibley was the team's final scratch on Sunday.Player Notes:— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) December 29, 2019
Defenceman Brendan Sibley (2001) has joined the club for the second half of the season and will dress for today's game.
Forward Charles Savoie (2003) has been called up and will join the team for the remainder of the season.#SeaDogs15
NEAR DISASTER: With 12:30 remaining in the second period and the game still scoreless, the puck was cleared away by the Wildcats and rolled towards Zachary Bouthillier. The Sea Dogs goaltender casually came out of his net to greet the puck, but the disc rolled under his stick and just slid a little left of the post.
GOOD START: Jeffrey Durocher's Sea Dogs career is off to a good start. After scoring in his debut on Saturday, the overage forward setup Kale McCallum's third period goal, making a lovely pass across the ice to the open Sea Dogs d-man.
SHUTOUT: This was only the second career shutout for Zachary Bouthillier. His first came on Oct. 6, 2017 when he made 29 saves to help the Chicoutimi Sagueneens defeat the Victoriaville Tigres. Saint John's last shutout win came on Dec. 30, 2018 when Mikhail Denisov made 34 saves in yet another 1-0 home win over the Wildcats.
BIG CROWD: The announced attendance of 3,951 was the second largest crowd to attend a Sea Dogs home game this season. Only the team's season opener had a larger crowd (4,067).An adventurous shutout win by Bouthillier pic.twitter.com/yqQT3Q26pQ— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) December 29, 2019
NOTES: Benoit-Olivier Groulx, who the Wildcats acquired from the Halifax Mooseheads before Christmas, has yet to join the team and was a healthy scratch... Jordan Spadafore and Jacob Hudson dropped the gloves in the neutral zone in the second period... a Wildcats fan won the 50/50 draw.
HIGHLIGHTS
NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs take on the Mooseheads in Halifax on New Year's Eve at 2 p.m.
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