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| Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs |
SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs let another third period lead slip away in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Cape Breton Eagles on Saturday at TD Station.
After allowing two late third period goals in a 4-3 loss on Friday, the Sea Dogs did the same Saturday, allowing Cape Breton to score twice in the final 2:38 of the third period to send the match to overtime. Cam Squires netted the winner at 3:17 of the extra frame.
Former Sea Dogs haunted Saint John with Cam MacDonald scoring twice and adding an assist and Cole Burbidge scoring once and adding two helpers. Squires also scored two goals while Jakub Milota made 33 saves in the win.
Peter Reynolds, Luka Benoit, Mathis Gauthier and Noah Reinhart all scored for Saint John. Patrick Leaver made 38 saves in the loss.
Just 16 seconds in, Reynolds fired a shot from the circle that beat Milota up high to give Saint John an early 1-0 advantage.
Saint John made it 2-0 at 11:59 of the opening frame. Pavel Simek threw the puck towards the goal where Vince Elie got a piece of it. The puck slid over to Benoit who deposited the puck into an empty net.
The Eagles got on board at 12:26 of the second period. After Leaver allowed a rebound, MacDonald found the loose puck in front of the net and put it in, making it a 2-1 game. MacDonald then netted his second of the game with 2:50 remaining in the period, putting the puck through a scramble in the crease. The play was reviewed for goaltender interference but was called a good goal.
Gauthier put the Sea Dogs back in front at 4:56 of the third period. The overage d-man stepped around a Cape Breton defender, skated into the slot and fired a perfect shot over the shoulder of Milota to make it a 3-2 game.
Saint John made it 4-2 with a power play goal at 9:00. A Joseph Ianniello point shot hit Milota in the mask and produced a rebound that Reinhart put in.
Cape Breton got within one at 17:22 when Burbidge found an open Squires who was streaking towards the goal. Squires gave Simek a shove after goal, which led to a Saint John power play — but it would be the Eagles scoring. Following a Reynolds turnover, play headed up ice where Burbidge scored shorthanded to quickly make it a 4-4 game at 18:02.
After the Eagles failed to convert on a power play in overtime, Squires found some room and beat Leaver with a wrist shot to give Cape Breton the extra point.
LINEUP
Mateiko - Reynolds - Reinhart
Simek - Elie - Benoit
Akkouche - Pierre-Noel - Beveridge
Laforge - Beaulieu
Tivey - Gauthier
Bilodeau - Ianniello
Dassylva - Amyot
MacLean
Leaver
Robinson
SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Chad Bellemare (injury), Sam-Luca Thifault (injury) and Reid Calder (healthy) along with defensemen Matteo Mann (Philadelphia Flyers camp/injury). Mascot Fleaburn was also absent.
FAMILIAR FACES: Like Friday's match, former Sea Dogs Cam MacDonald and Cole Burbidge both found the scoresheet in this game. Both players had three point nights with MacDonald scoring twice and Burbidge once.
NOTES: Saint John went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Reid Calder was a healthy scratch while Matthew MacLean drew back in... there was a brief ceremony before the game to honour Truth and Reconciliation Day... Cam MacDonald and Patrick Leaver got into a shoving match late in the second period... Mathis Gauthier's third period goal was his first as a Sea Dog... Joseph Ianniello's point shot in the third period, which led to Noah Reinhart's power play goal, damaged Jakub Milota's mask, which needed a couple minutes worth of repairs... Gauthier had seven shots and five hits... penalties were a problem for Saint John. They gave Cape Breton seven power plays... physical game with hits ending 18-16 in favour of Saint John... attendance was 2,236.
HIGHLIGHTS
NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs visit the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Friday at 7 p.m.
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