Recap: Sea Dogs win 6-5

FINAL: Gatineau 5, Saint John 6

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs ended a six-game losing streak with a big upset win on Thursday night at TD Station.

Cam MacDonald netted a hat trick to lead the Sea Dogs to a 6-5 win over the Gatineau Olympiques, one of the top teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Western Conference.

Pavel Simek, Connor Trenholm and Charlie DesRoches added singles in Saint John's first victory since Oct. 7. Nikolas Hurtubise made 42 saves, earning his first win of the season.

The Sea Dogs made the most of their chances, especially in the first period when they scored on their first two shots of the game. The Olympiques pressed hard at times - especially in the third period where they recorded 21 shots - but Saint John was able to hold them off enough for the win.

Saint John's struggling power play also had a decent game, going 2/5 on the man advantage. Gatineau, who has also struggled on the power play, went 3/6.

Isaac Belliveau, Marcel Marcel, Tristan Luneau, Zachary Dean and Cole Cormier had Gatineau goals. Emerik Despatie was pulled in the third period after allowing five goals on 25 shots. Kaiden Kirkwood allowed a goal on four shots in relief.

LINEUP

Reynolds - MacDonald - Burns

Laforge - Trenholm - Reinhart

Simek - Burbidge - Elie

Thifault - Cournoyer - Mateiko

Tivey - DesRoches

Bilodeau - Despont

Tracey - Cosman

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without goaltender Olivier Bideau (healthy); defenseman Jeremie Richard (healthy); and forwards Jacob Beaulieu (injury), Tomasz Szczerba (injury) and Danny Akkouche (healthy).

ODD START: The Sea Dogs were getting outshot 9-2 at one point in the first period - but they led 2-1. Saint John scored on their first two shots of the game thanks to goals from Cam MacDonald and Pavel Simek. The Dogs led 2-1 after one despite being outshot 14-8.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Saint John entered the game having scored just three power play goals all season. They scored two in this game, including a Charlie DesRoches marker in the second period that came after Marcel Marcel was given a five-minute major and game misconduct for a check-from-behind on Sam-Luca Thifault. 

HAT TRICK: Cam MacDonald scored twice in the third period to complete his hat trick. It's the second hat trick of his QMJHL career.

Cam MacDonald wins the faceoff and picks the top corner! 🎩👒🧢#CityofChampions pic.twitter.com/cES2YF8Heq

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 28, 2022

SMALL CROWD: The announced attendance of 1,744 was the smallest crowd in team history for a game not under COVID capacity restrictions. Early season + good weather + rebuild + losing streak is a good formula for a small crowd.

NOTES: Gatineau forward Bobby Orr, a 2019 Sea Dogs draft pick, had an assist in the game... defenseman Jake Tracey appeared in his first game since Oct. 1 due to an injury... Nikolas Hurtubise got run into early in the second period. He was shaken up a bit on the play but remained in the game... this was just the second game this season that the Sea Dogs carried a lead into the third period... Peter Reynolds had four assists to tie a career high... Brady Burns had two assists... Charlie DesRoches had a goal and two assists... the band "Room Flood" performed at the first intermission... the Olympiques play in Moncton tomorrow and Bathurst on Sunday.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the Acadie-Bathurst Titan tomorrow night at 7 p.m.