Recap: Sea Dogs win 4-3

FINAL: Saint John 4, Bathurst 3

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

BATHURST - Special teams guided the Saint John Sea Dogs to a season opening victory on Sunday.

The Sea Dogs scored twice on the power play and then produced a timely penalty kill in the final two minutes to earn a 4-3 win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan at the KC Irving Regional Centre. It was the first game of the 2022-23 regular season for both clubs.

Saint John's veteran players led the way. Brady Burns scored twice and added an assist while Marshall Lessard and Peter Reynolds also scored. Reynolds and captain Charlie DesRoches each added two assists.

Ventsislav Shingarov, who got the start with Nikolas Hurtubise nursing an injury, made 21 saves in the win. It was the netminder's first regular season victory since Feb. 23, 2020 when he was a member of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.

The Sea Dogs had a rough start, falling behind 2-0 less than four minutes into the game. But the team really settled in as the period moved along and seemed to get better as the game pushed forward.

Saint John tied the game early in the second only to allow another Titan goal just over four minutes later. But this inexperienced Sea Dogs group never panicked and looked impressive at times, led by their returning veterans.

Reynolds tied the game again at 6:54 and then at 10:09, just as a two-man advantage was ending, Burns scored what proved to be the winner after the Sea Dogs were buzzing in the offensive zone.

The Sea Dogs killed off a Nate Tivey slashing penalty late in the game - the only power play Saint John allowed - to secure the win.

Markas Samenas, Ben Allison and Cameron MacLean scored for Bathurst. Sergei Litvinov made 30 saves in the loss.

LINEUP

Burns - Reynolds - Lessard

Laforge - Trenholm - Elie

Simek - Burbidge - Thifault

Mateiko - Cournoyer - Beaulieu

Tivey - DesRoches

Bilodeau - Despont

Tracey - Cosman

Shingarov

Brideau

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without goaltender Nikolas Hurtubise (injury); defenseman Jeremie Richard (healthy); and forwards Cam MacDonald (Tampa Bay Lightning camp), Noah Reinhart (healthy), Tomasz Szczerba (healthy) and Danny Akkouche (healthy).

DEBUTS: Not including backup goaltender Olivier Brideau, eight Sea Dogs made their QMJHL debuts in this game: Vince Elie, Pavel Simek, Cole Burbidge, Eriks Mateiko, Jacob Beaulieu, Nate Tivey, Nicolas Bilodeau, and Jake Tracey. Travis Crickard also made his head coaching debut.

BIG CHANGE: Only five Sea Dogs who dressed for this game - Brady Burns, Peter Reynolds, Marshall Lessard, Connor Trenholm and Charlie DesRoches - played in the Memorial Cup final. That is a significant amount of turnover.

BURNS: Brady Burns seems to enjoy playing in season openers. Burns has recorded at least a point in every season opener he has played in during his QMJHL career.

Sept. 21, 2018 vs Halifax: 1 goal

Sept. 20, 2019 vs Halifax: 1 assist

Oct. 2, 2020 at Bathurst: 1 assist

Oct. 1, 2021 vs Charlottetown: 1 goal, 1 assist

Sept. 25, 2022 at Bathurst: 2 goals, 1 assist

SCORING TOUCH: After scoring in all three pre-season games he appeared in, Marshall Lessard kept his streak going Sunday, scoring his first of the regular season in the second period. Defenseman Nate Tivey setup the goal for his first career QMJHL point.

Tivey ➡️ Lessard = 🚨#CityofChampions pic.twitter.com/ZP54ZSlYii

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) September 25, 2022

NOTES: With overager Nikolas Hurtubise hurt, the Sea Dogs were able to dress all three of their other 20-year-olds: Brady Burns, Marshall Lessard and Charlie DesRoches... DesRoches served his first game as Sea Dogs captain... Peter Reynolds, who was not named to Saint John's leadership group Saturday, wore an 'A' on his jersey. Cam MacDonald, who was named to the group, is away at NHL camp... the Titan were without goaltender Jan Bednar (Detroit Red Wings) and forwards Riley Kidney (Montreal Canadiens) and Jacob Melanson (Seattle Kraken) due to NHL training camps... this was the first game of the season involving Maritimes Division teams thanks to Hurricane Fiona... with this being the Titan's home opener, there was a lengthy pre-game ceremony. Puck drop took place at 3:18 p.m... the Sea Dogs have ProcedureFlow ads on their helmets... Brady Burns had seven shots on goal while Pavel Simek had five... hits were listed as 22-9 in favour of the Titan... attendance was 1,876.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs travel to Charlottetown to face the Islanders on Friday at 7:30 p.m.