Recap: Sea Dogs lose 8-4

FINAL: Chicoutimi 8, Saint John 4

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Chicoutimi Sagueneens doubled up the Saint John Sea Dogs on Thursday night at TD Station.

The Sags scored three times in the third period to earn an 8-4 victory in what was a wild and eventful game at times. Chicoutimi recorded 49 shots on goal thanks to the seven power play opportunities they were awarded.

The penalties made it difficult for Saint John to get into a groove in this game. The Sea Dogs had a strong second period, getting within a goal of the Sags. It looked as though Vince Elie had tied the match at 5-5 just 4:39 into the middle frame but the goal was called back, presumably due to an offside. Saint John would not score again.

For two teams that rarely play each other, this was a testy and physical game at times. Even the two coaching staffs were having some heated exchanges.

Fabrice Fortin had a hat trick for Chicoutimi; Zachary Gravel scored twice; and singles came from Eliott Robert, Peteris Bulans and Jacob Newcombe. Charles-Antoine Lavallee made 21 stops in the win.

Brady Burns scored a pair of goals for Saint John while Elie and Nick Blagden added singles. Nikolas Hurtubise allowed seven goals on 40 shots before being replaced by Ventsislav Shingarov late in the third. Shingarov allowed a goal on nine shots in relief.

Saint John has now dropped five straight games, allowing seven or more goal in three of their past four matches.

LINEUP

Burns - MacDonald - Blagden

Simek - Trenholm - Reinhart

Thifault - Burbidge - Elie

Laforge - Cournoyer - Bellemare

Tivey - Akkouche

Bilodeau - Despont

Richard - Dickie

Hurtubise

Shingarov

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without goaltender Olivier Brideau (healthy); defensemen Jake Tracey (injury), Charlie DesRoches (injury) and Jared Cosman (injury); and forwards Tomasz Szczerba (injury), Eriks Mateiko (injury) and Peter Reynolds (injury).

WELCOME BACK: While the Sea Dogs were still missing some regulars due to injuries, the team got a few players back. Brady Burns and Cam MacDonald both returned up front while Nikolas Hurtubise made just his third appearance of the season in goal. Hurtubise was pulled late in the third, which was possibly injury related.

BLAGDEN: Nick Blagden had an eventful evening in his return to TD Station ice. The 20-year-old scored his first goal of the season at 3:46 of the first period and then, shortly after at 6:33, was the victim of a Jonathan Desrosiers hit from behind - a play that seemed to set off what was a testy game at times. Blagden gave the officials some mock applause in the second period.

He's back!

Nick Blagden gets the Sea Dogs on the board in his first game back at TD Station! 🚨#CityofChampions pic.twitter.com/kOu6vuCt1i

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) November 10, 2022

Nick Blagden giving the officials some applause in the second period tonight. pic.twitter.com/qnEhktTpQD

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) November 11, 2022

HEATED: For a couple teams that rarely play each other, this was a rather heated contest for a Thursday night in early November. Even the coaching staffs were getting in on the action. Here are all the penalties by period:

First: Desrosiers Chi (checking from behind), 6:33; Blagden Snb (roughing), 6:33; Despont Snb (roughing), 6:33; Laforge Snb (high sticking), 9:26; MacDonald Snb (slashing), 12:15; Gravel Chi (slashing), 14:34; Blagden Snb (roughing, unsportmanlike conduct), 18:01; MacDonald Snb (checking from behind), 18:01.

Second: Burns Snb (unsportmanlike conduct), 6:47; MacDonald Snb (unsportmanlike conduct, unsportmanlike conduct), 6:47; Blagden Snb (roughing), 11:51; Bulans Chi (interference), 16:01.

Third: Duquet Chi (high sticking), 7:08; Desrosiers Chi (roughing, unsportmanlike conduct), 12:02; Burbidge Snb (roughing, unsportmanlike conduct), 12:02; Élie Snb (unsportmanlike conduct), 12:02; Thifault Snb (roughing, unsportmanlike conduct), 12:02.

NOTES: There was a ceremony held for Remembrance Day before the game... the ice looked real bad at TD Station, presumably due to mechanical issues. This problem has popped up in the past, but the dark spots were much more prominent this time around... callups Chad Bellemare and Ian Dickie were dressed once again... the game took nearly two hours and 40 minutes to complete because of all the penalties... there was also a delay in the second period due to an issue with Nikolas Hurtubise's mask... Brady Burns' second period goals came 10 seconds apart... Burns and Pavel Simek each had four shots... attendance was 2,636, the third largest crowd of the season in Saint John.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs are back in action on Saturday night at home against the Drummondville Voltigeurs.