Recap: Sea Dogs lose 6-1

FINAL: Saint John 1, Sherbrooke 6

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SHERBROOKE, QC - The Saint John Sea Dogs hung around but the first-place Sherbrooke Phoenix proved to be too much on Friday night at Palais des Sports Léopold-Drolet.

After a scoreless and fairly even first period, the Phoenix scored four times in the second en route to a 6-1 win over the Sea Dogs. Sherbrooke, who sat atop the QMJHL standings heading into the game, have yet to lose in regulation this season.

Sherbrooke's dangerous offense performed as expected after a bit of a slow start in this game with Joshua Roy (one goal and two assists), Justin Gill (three assists) and Ethan Gauthier (one goal) all finding the scoresheet. 

Milo Roelens, Joel Marchon, David Spacek and Tyson Hinds also scored for the Phoenix. Jakob Robillard made 34 saves in the win.

Despite the lopsided score, the Sea Dogs didn't perform too badly and could have easily had another goal or two. Saint John put 35 shots on net but had a difficult time creating sustained pressure near the Sherbrooke crease.

Noah Reinhart scored Saint John's lone goal. Ventsislav Shingarov made 35 stops before leaving the game with an injury with 4:08 remaining.

LINEUP

Burns - MacDonald - Reinhart

Reynolds - Trenholm - Cournoyer

Simek - Burbidge - Elie

Thifault - Beaulieu

Tivey - DesRoches

Bilodeau - Despont

Akkouche - Cosman

Richard

Shingarov

Brideau

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without goaltender Nikolas Hurtubise (injury); defenseman Jake Tracey (injury); and forwards Nico Laforge (injury), Tomasz Szczerba (injury), Marshall Lessard (injury) and Eriks Mateiko (serving second game of two-game suspension).

SHINGAROV HURT: With 4:08 remaining, Sea Dogs goaltender Ventsislav Shingarov was injured during a scrum in the crease. He left the game appearing to be favouring his right leg. Olivier Brideau took over in goal. Oddly, in Saint John's last visit to Sherbrooke, Sea Dogs goaltender Noah Patenaude suffered a season ending injury.

NOTES: Saint John went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen with Danny Akkouche being used as a d-man again... Ventsislav Shingarov made a fifth straight start for Saint John... Sam-Luca Thifault played against his former club. Thifault played in 21 games with the Phoenix last season... radio broadcaster Bruce Smith mentioned that goaltender Nikolas Hurtubise is with the team and practicing on this road trip... Sherbrooke's Milos Roelens now has goals in five straight games... Cam MacDonald scored on a power play late in the second but it was ruled the puck was kicked in... Peter Reynolds was buzzing in this game, posting a team high eight shots... MacDonald and Brady Burns each had seven shots.

En raison du protocole de la COVID 19, Stéphane Julien ne sera pas derrière le banc des siens ce soir face aux Sea Dogs.

— Jérôme Gaudreau (@JeromeGaudreau) October 14, 2022

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs travel to Quebec City to face the Remparts at 5 p.m. tomorrow.