Pre-game notes: Sea Dogs looking to bounce back from Game 1 loss

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

HALIFAX - The Saint John Sea Dogs will try and bounce back from a Game 1 loss tonight in Gatineau.

The Sea Dogs, on the strength of a 45-save performance from goaltender Ventsislav Shingarov, hung around for two periods before allowing five goals in the final frame in a 7-1 loss to the Gatineau Olympiques. Defensive defenseman Jared Cosman scored Saint John's lone goal while shorthanded in the third period.

Not the best look for Kidney (No.19). Stands around as the Sea Dogs score a shorthanded goal. pic.twitter.com/r6vW8QIHd3

— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) April 1, 2023

The Olympiques controlled the game throughout, outshooting the Sea Dogs 52-22.

Saint John will likely need another big game from Shingarov tonight if they hope to pull off an upset and return home with a series split.

Saint John has mixed up their forward lines a bit for tonight's Game 2.

Mateiko - Reynolds - Reinhart

Burns - Burbidge - Benoit

Simek - Drover - Elie

Cournoyer - Beaulieu

Tivey - DesRoches

Ianniello - Cosman

Bilodeau - Akkouche

Despont

Shingarov

Brideau

Note that game time this evening is 5 p.m.

A few other notes...

• A sold out Slush Puppie Centre watched last night's Game 1. Tonight's game is expected to feature another packed house or close to it. It will indeed be another sold out crowd of 5,000.
• Zach Dean, who had a hat trick and an assist for Gatineau, was named the CHL's second star of the night.
• There were four overtime games Friday with Moncton, Victoriaville, Rouyn-Noranda and Rimouski all winning.
• The Huskies game was wild. The Shawinigan Cataractes were up 5-4 entering the final two minutes of play only to have Rouyn-Noranda score twice 23 seconds apart to take a 6-5 lead. But at 19:26 of the third, Lou-Felix Denis scored for Shawinigan to tie it at 6-6. Emeric Gaudet won it for the Huskies at 11:08 of the second overtime.
• The Tigres scored at 17:33 of the third to send the match to overtime.
• Chicoutimi's Matteo Mann has been suspended two games for a check to the head in Game 1.
• The Wildcats erased a 3-1 second period deficit in their 4-3 Game 1 victory. Attendance at Avenir Centre was just 2,771.
• The Cape Breton Eagles had a strong start and outshot the Halifax Mooseheads 38-30 but still dropped Game 1 by a score of 4-1. Former Sea Dogs forward Josh Lawrence scored just the second playoff goal of his QMJHL career in the Mooseheads win.
• In his first career WHL playoff game (which is honestly a tragedy), Connor Bedard had two goals and an assist to lead the Regina Pats to a 6-1 win over the Saskatoon Blades in Game 1 of that series.
• In the Maritime Hockey League, the Campbellton Tigers had their season come to an end with a 4-3 double overtime Game 7 loss to the Summerside Western Capitals. Former Sea Dogs forward Connor Richard had a goal for Campbellton.
• Neat light show before the Mooseheads game last night.

New pre-game light show in Halifax last night. There are QR codes throughout the building where fans download an app to take part. pic.twitter.com/1tioFtIGLq

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) April 1, 2023