Recap: Sea Dogs win 3-2 (OT)

FINAL: Saint John 3, Charlottetown 2 (OT)

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

CHARLOTTETOWN - PEI native Charlie DesRoches scored the overtime winner to give the Saint John Sea Dogs a pivotal 3-2 victory over the Charlottetown Islanders at Eastlink Centre on Friday night.

While allowing the Islanders to get a point wasn't ideal, the Sea Dogs inched closer to Charlottetown in the overall standings. The Sea Dogs are now four points back of the final playoff spot after entering the night five points behind.

Pavel Simek scored a late third period goal to force overtime. Alexis Cournoyer also connected in regulation time while defenseman Nicolas Bilodeau picked up two assists.

Ventsislav Shingarov made 25 saves in the victory.

Michael Horth and former Sea Dogs forward Simon Hughes scored for Charlottetown. Jakob Robillard made 20 stops in the loss.

LINEUP

Burns - Mateiko - Drover

Simek - Burbidge - Reinhart

Laforge - Cournoyer - Elie

Casey - Beaulieu - Benoit

Tivey - DesRoches

Akkouche - Cosman

Ianniello - Bilodeau

Shingarov

Brideau

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without defensemen Vincent Despont (healthy) and Jeremie Richard (healthy) along with forwards Peter Reynolds (injury), Sam-Luca Thifault (injury) and Harrison Ballard (healthy).

NEW LOOK: The Eastlink Centre ice has a different look as PEI prepares to host the Canada Winter Games in the coming weeks. Eastlink Center will be one of the hockey venues.

New ice and logos are in for the @2023CanadaGames! pic.twitter.com/q7maBispA2

— Eastlink Centre Charlottetown (@EastlinkCtrPEI) February 7, 2023

OT: The Sea Dogs won just their second game of the year in overtime thanks to captain Charlie DesRoches. The power play marker was DesRoches' first goal since Dec. 4.

The OT winner from the captain! 🚨#CityofChampions pic.twitter.com/owydwbYMlv

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) February 11, 2023

NOTES: The Sea Dogs really mixed up their forward lines for this game... defenseman Nate Tivey returned to the lineup after missing Wednesday's game with an injury... defenseman Vincent Despont was a healthy scratch for a second straight game... goaltender Ventsislav Shingarov got the start after being a healthy scratch on Wednesday... Nicolas Bilodeau had two assists... Pavel Simek had a goal and an assist... Brady Burns had four shots... Saint John went 2/5 on the power play... hits were 27-11 in favour of Charlottetown... attendance was 2,521.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs and Acadie-Bathurst Titan battle on Sunday afternoon at TD Station. Note that this is a 2 p.m. start.