Recap: Sea Dogs win 4-2

FINAL: Saint John 4, Shawinigan 2

SHAWINIGAN, Que. - The Saint John Sea Dogs did it again.

A night after defeating the Quebec Remparts, the Sea Dogs rolled into Shawinigan and rolled out with two points thanks to a solid 4-2 road win over the Cataractes on Friday.

Charles Savoie, Ryan Francis, William Dufour and Jeremie Poirier scored for Saint John. Dufour also had two assists in his first star performance. Noah Patenaude made 27 stops in the victory.

Shawinigan scored early in the first period but, like Friday, the Sea Dogs would be rebound. Saint John really settled down after the opening 10 minutes, limiting Shawinigan scoring chances and began to create their own.

Francis made it a 2-2 game at 14:24 of the second period but Dufour's goal at 19:40 of the middle frame seemed to deflate the Cataractes as the Dogs headed to the dressing room up 3-2.

Saint John went to the power play early in the third period and - not over exaggerate too much - essentially produced their best man advantage since 2017. Poirier scored at 2:56, giving the Dogs a much deserved goal.

The Catarcates didn't generate many chances in the third. Saint John outshot Shawinigan 13-6 in the third and 32-29 overall.

Olivier Nadeau and Maximilien Ledoux scored for Shawinigan. Antoine Coulombe made 28 saves in the loss.

The Sea Dogs have had two solid performance so far on this road trip and will try to make it three on Saturday in Drummondville.
 LINEUP

Burns - Lawrence - Dufour 

Savoie - Reynolds - Francis 

Picard - MacDonald - Bezeau 

Foston - Crete - Sapelnikov 

DesRoches - Villeneuve 

Poirier - Inniss 

Drapeau - Despont

Lemieux 

Patenaude

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without defenseman Hunter Gartley along with forwards Carter McCluskey, Adam Bowness and Nico Laforge.

STREAK SNAPPED: Shawinigan had their seven-game winning snapped and also suffered their first regulation time loss at home. The Cataractes still sit first overall in the league with a 9-3-0-2 record for 20 points.

DUFOUR: William Dufour just keeps producing. With a goal and two helpers in this game, Dufour now has 12 goals and 22 points in just 14 games. 

HURTING CATS: The Cataractes have been hit hard by the injury bug of late. They play in Saint John this coming Friday.

Xavier Bourgault blessé en deuxième période chez les Cataractes. Il rejoint Bourque, Massicotte, Beaudoin à l'infirmerie. #bonjourladversité

— steve turcotte (@steveturcotte) November 6, 2021

POWER PLAY: The return of Ryan Francis has energized Saint John's power play. They went 2-for-4 in this game and the top unit of Francis, William Dufour, Brady Burns, Josh Lawrence and Jeremie Poirier looked excellent together.

NOTES: The Sea Dogs have now won three straight games and sit eighth overall in the QMJHL standings... Shawinigan's Olivier Nadeau has scored in six straight home games... Vincent Despont has picked up assists in back-to-back games... Saint John won 40-of-66 faceoffs... Jeremie Poirier had eight shots... Noah Patenaude has won three straight starts.

NEXT GAME: Saint John's road trip concludes tomorrow at 4 p.m. in Drummondville against the Voltigeurs.