Recap: Sea Dogs lose 4-3 (OT)

FINAL: Saint John 3, Charlottetown 4 (OT)

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

CHARLOTTETOWN - Jeremie Biakabutuka scored at 3:55 of overtime to give the Charlottetown Islanders a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Saint John Sea Dogs on Friday night at Eastlink Centre.

The Sea Dogs were leading 2-0 heading into the third period after a strong middle frame. But Charlottetown stormed back with Lucas Romeo scoring at 1:44 of the third and Kiefer Lyons tying it at 5:37.

Danny Akkouche scored what looked like the game-winner at 16:28 only to have the Islanders come back again. With their goaltender pulled, Peter Repcik converted with 1:26 remaining to send the match into extra time.

Sea Dogs goaltender Ventsislav Shingarov broke his stick early in overtime and, with no stoppages being whistled, was unable to get a new one in a free flowing extra frame. This allowed Biakabutuka to beat Shingarov five-hole on a breakaway to give Charlottetown a 4-3 win.

Islander netminder Jakob Robillard made 34 stops in the win.

Along with Akkouche, Peter Reynolds and Alex Drover scored for Saint John. Shingarov made 34 stops in the loss.

The Sea Dogs now have 54 points on the season. Saint John's playoff fate will be determined on Saturday, the final day of the regular season, when they host Gordie Dwyer's Acadie-Bathurst Titan at 4 p.m.

LINEUP

Burns - Reynolds - Reinhart

Simek - Burbidge - Benoit

Mateiko - Cournoyer - Drover

Calder - Elie

Tivey - DesRoches

Ianniello - Cosman

Bilodeau - Akkouche

Despont

Shingarov

Brideau

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without defenseman Jeremie Richard (injury) along with forwards Sam-Luca Thifault (injury), Harrison Ballard (injury), Nathan Casey (injury), Nico Laforge (injury) and Jacob Beaulieu (healthy).

NEW RECORD: With an assist on Peter Reynolds' first period goal, Brady Burns became the Sea Dogs' all-time points leader with 258. Burns surpassed Jonathan Huberdeau, who finished his Sea Dogs career with 257 points.

🚨 NEW FRANCHISE RECORD 🚨

Brady Burns now holds the franchise record for most points in Sea Dogs history.

Congratulations Brady! pic.twitter.com/4zjEG7AkCe

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) March 24, 2023

PUCK GONE MISSING: There was an interesting scene in the second period when Ventsislav Shingarov couldn't find the puck in his equipment after making a save. The puck was apparently stuck in his glove the entire time.

Mystery puck anyone? pic.twitter.com/5Qsd9BpVxQ

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) March 25, 2023

STREAK CONTINUES: Peter Reynolds extended his road goal scoring streak to five consecutive games. Reynolds also had an assist and three shots in this game.

FINAL TRIP: This was Saint John's final road game of the regular season. They'll finish the season with a 11-17-5-1 record away from home.

NOTES: Former Sea Dogs forward Simon Hughes served the first game of a two-game kneeing suspension... the Islanders wore special edition jerseys honouring the 1980s Islanders senior team... the Islanders honoured their three overage players before the game: Keiran Gallant, Jeremie Biakabutuka and Jakob Robillard... the Sea Dogs didn't record a shot on goal in the first period until an Eriks Mateiko shot at 7:14... the Sea Dogs fell to 18-0-1-1 when leading after two periods... Brady Burns had five shots... the Sea Dogs gave the Islanders just one power play... attendance was 3,680, a sellout. 

HIGHLIGHTS

Coming soon.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs conclude regular season play tomorrow at 4 p.m. at TD Station, hosting the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.