Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 3-2

FINAL: Saint John 2, Rimouski 3
RIMOUSKI, Que. - A third period goal by Adam Raska proved to be the difference on Tuesday night at Sun Life Financial Colisee.

Raska's third period goal ended up being the game-winner in a 3-2 Rimouski Oceanic victory over the Saint John Sea Dogs. Saint John applied some great pressure in the final 30 seconds of regulation to try and net the equalizer, but it wasn't to be on this night.

The ice was heavily tilted in favour of the Oceanic in the opening frame thanks to three power play opportunities. Zachary Bouthillier was busy, stopping all 16 shots he faced. Saint John recorded just two shots in the frame.

Saint John turned things around in the second when Maxim Cajkovic opened the scoring at 3:59. The Oceanic scored two in the period to grab a 2-1 edge through 40 minutes.

Jeremie Poirier finished off a nice passing play with William Villeneuve and Joshua Roy early in the third to tie the game at 2-2. Raska would put the Oceanic in front for good at 10:30.

Zachary Massicotte and Nathan Ouellet also scored for Rimouski. Creed Jones made 23 stops in the win.

Bouthillier made 41 saves in the loss.

While the Oceanic were no doubt the favourites heading into the match, this will go down as a missed opportunity for the Sea Dogs. The Oceanic were without two of their top forwards - Alexis Lafreniere and Nicolas Guay - and started their backup goaltender. Saint John came close to a win, but it just wasn't quite enough.

Saint John's four-game Quebec road trip continues tomorrow night in Quebec City.

LINEUP
SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Julian Vander Voet (healthy) and Alexandre O'Niell (healthy) along with defenseman Brendan Sibley (healthy).

WELCOME BACK: Forward Ben Badalamenti returned to the Sea Dogs lineup after missing just under a month of action with a lower body injury. His last game was on New Year's Eve. Badalamenti took Julian Vander Voet's spot on the fourth line, playing with Charles Savoie and Alex Drover.

SUSPENDED: The Sea Dogs caught a major break before the match when the league suspended Alexis Lafreniere three games for a check to the head. Lafreniere is the league's leading scorer and registered four assists in the Oceanic's 6-1 win in Saint John earlier this season.

INJURED: Former Sea Dogs captain Nicolas Guay was not in the Rimouski lineup due to an upper body injury. Guay also missed Sunday's Oceanic game. The overage forward has six goals and three assists in 13 games with Rimouski.

HONOURED: Sea Dogs forward Jeffrey Durocher, who was traded to Saint John in the Nicolas Guay deal, was honoured with a round of applause during a stoppage in play in the first period.
ROUGH FIRST: The Sea Dogs survived being outshot 16-2 in the first, entering intermission in a 0-0 tie. The large shot differential was due to three Rimouski power plays - which included a five-on-three advantage.

RECORD TIED: Jeremie Poirier scored his 15th goal of the season, tying him with Alex Grant for the franchise record for goals in a season by a defenseman. Grant has held the record since the 2007-08 season.

OFF THE BOARD: Former Sea Dogs forward Cedric Pare, who is second in the league in goals, was held off the score sheet in this game.

HEATING UP: After going pointless in his first four games back from the World Junior Hockey Championship, Maxim Cajkovic has points in four straight games - two goals and two assists. The line of Cajkovic, Anderson MacDonald and Jeffrey Durocher has looked good.

NOTES: William Villeneuve now has 34 assists on the season as he continues to close in on Nathan Beaulieu's team record for helpers in a season by a defenseman (41)... Maxim Cajkovic had a game high seven shots... Anderson MacDonald has points in five straight games.

NEXT GAME: Saint John's road trip continues tomorrow night in Quebec City with an 8 p.m. matchup against the Remparts.
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