Recap: Sea Dogs win 9-7

FINAL: Saint John 9, Halifax 7

HALIFAX - The Saint John Sea Dogs showed once again that they can score.

The Sea Dogs put up nine goals - nearly matching their season high of 10 - in a wild 9-7 victory over the Halifax Mooseheads on Sunday afternoon at Scotiabank Centre. Maxim Cajkovic led the way with a hat trick; William Villeneuve had a four-point game; and Joshua Roy and Jeffrey Durocher each had a goal and two assists.

The Sea Dogs led 6-3 after two periods but, just like in most of their other high scoring games this season, could not hold things together on the backend. It's no secret that Saint John's defensive play continues to be a pain point and, for whatever reason, seems to particularly struggle when they are producing well offensively. Fortunately, it did not cost them a win on Sunday.

Along with Cajkovic scoring three, single goals came from Villeneuve, Roy, Durocher, Jeremie Poirier, Josh Lawrence and Dawson Stairs. Zachary Bouthillier made 35 stops in the win.

Kevin Gursoy scored a pair of goals against his former team and Gavin Hart also netted a pair. Halifax singles came from Jason Horvath, D'Artagnan Joly and Marcel Barinka. Cole McLaren was pulled after allowing four goals on 10 shots in just over one period of play. Alex MacVicar allowed four goals on 13 shots in relief.

The Sea Dogs website has a full game recap.

LINEUP

Here is this afternoon's projected lineup for your #SJSeaDogs brought to you by @CantrburyDental #AlwaysWearYourMouthGuard pic.twitter.com/KpiyH1gEvH

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) February 16, 2020

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Alexandre O'Niell (healthy) and Nicholas Deakin-Poot (injured) along with defenseman Joona Lehmus.

NOTES: This was the second hat trick of Maxim Cajkovis's career... this was Alex MacVicar's first career QMJHL action. He has been playing with the Summerside Western Capitals this season... William Villeneuve's four-point game ties a career high... this was Joshua Roy's fifth three-point game or better this season... with three assists, Villeneuve has set a new franchise record for assists in one season by a defenseman (42), passing Nathan Beaulieu.

Congratulations @WilliamVillene9 on having the most assists by a @SJSeaDogs defenceman in one season. To accomplish this is special, to do it at 17 is incredible. @QMJHL @CHLHockey

— Trevor Georgie (@georgietrev) February 16, 2020

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the Acadie-Bathurst Titan tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. at TD Station.