The trio of Ryan Francis, Vladislav Kotkov and Peter Reynolds generated all five of Saint John's goals in a 5-3 win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Francis, making his Sea Dogs debut, led the way with a four-goal performance, tying the team record for most goals in a single game.
Kotkov, also making his Saint John debut, added a goal and three assists. Reynolds recorded three helpers - a career high.
A loaded, game-breaking top line is something the Sea Dogs have been missing over the past few seasons. Tonight's game showed the impact that kind of trio can make.
The Sea Dogs and Titan were both playing their first games since November. Things were a bit shaky in parts of the opening period, but the teams looked decent under the circumstances.
Bathurst led 2-0 after one thanks to a shorthanded goal and another that was scored on a breakaway coming out of the box. In the second, the Francis show began as the Calgary Flames prospect netted a natural hat trick. Kotkov added the other goal in the second, giving Saint John a 4-2 lead.
The teams traded goals in the third to make it a 5-3 final.
Mathieu Desgagnes, Ben Allison and Bennett MacArthur had Bathurst goals. Jan Bednar made 31 stops in the loss.
Zachary Emond, also making his Sea Dogs debut, made 27 stops in the win.
This was Saint John's first road victory of the season and first since Feb. 16, 2020.
LINEUP
Francis - Reynolds - Kotkov
Burns - Lawrence - Girouard
Savoie - MacDonald - Bezeau
Carruthers - Alchorn
McCallum - DesRoches
Poirier - Villeneuve
Drapeau - Inniss
Dow
Emond
Patenaude
SCRATCHES: Forwards Liam Leonard, Carter McCluskey and Simon Hughes along with defensemen Brendan Casey, Hunter Gartley and Jan Hampl. Saint John dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen.
DEBUTS: Ryan Francis, Vladislav Kotkov, Zachary Alchorn, Sam Dow and Zachary Emond all made their Sea Dogs debuts on Tuesday.
BEDNAR: Titan goaltender Jan Bednar, the second overall pick in the 2020 CHL Import Draft, made his long awaited QMJHL debut. Bednar joined the club after taking part in the world juniors with the Czech Republic. He looked pretty good in this game despite the loss.
SPECIAL TEAMS: With new additions to the lineup, Saint John's special teams had a different look to them. Saint John's top power play unit featured four forwards in Peter Reynolds, Ryan Francis, Vladislav Kotkov and Nicholas Girouard along with William Villeneuve on the backend. On the penalty kill, the Dogs' top unit had Kotkov, Francis, Nathan Drapeau and Christopher Inniss.
COSTLY PP: Saint John went to the power play at 10:19 of the first period but it proved to be costly. Mathieu Desgagnes sped down the wing and beat William Villeneuve to give Bathurst a 1-0 advantage with a shorthanded goal. Then when the penalty expired, Ben Allison was sprung on a breakaway out of the box and made it 2-0.
HISTORY: Only three other players have scored four goals in a single game in Sea Dogs history: Jonathan Huberdeau (March 2, 2012), Nathan Noel (Jan. 23, 2015) and Boko Imama (Nov. 12, 2016).
🚨GOAL🚨
— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) March 10, 2021
Francis HAS FOUR?!?!?! It's 5-2! pic.twitter.com/25z2Exs9wk
DESGAGNES: Mathieu Desgagnes has really enjoyed playing against Saint John this season. With a goal and an assist in this game, Desgagnes now has four goals and four assists in four games against the Sea Dogs.
NOTES: Sea Dogs assistant coach Stefan Legein was rocking the full face shield behind the bench. QMJHL coaches are still required to wear eye protection as part of the league's COVID-19 protocols... Zachary Emond was wearing his new Sea Dogs mask and equipment... Bathurst's Jacob Melanson was in some serious pain after blocking a shot in the second period... Vladislav Kotkov, Ryan Francis, Peter Reynolds and Jeremie Poirier combined for 19 of Saint John's 36 shots on goal... attendance was 1,132... this was Kotkov's first QMJHL game since March 11, 2020... the Sea Dogs and Titan meet again on Sunday at TD Station.
NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs visit the Moncton Wildcats on Saturday at 7 p.m.
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