Recap: Sea Dogs lose 2-1 (OT)

FINAL: Chicoutimi 2, Saint John 1 (OT)

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs' winning streak came to an end on Sunday — but it wasn't for lack of trying.

The Sea Dogs dropped a closely contested, hard fourth and entertaining game 2-1 in overtime to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens at TD Station.

Eriks Mateiko scored Saint John's only goal. Chicoutimi netminder Raphael Precourt was excellent in the Sagueneens crease, stopping several excellent Saint John scoring chances. Precourt made 27 saves in the win.

Justin Robinson made 25 stops in the loss.

Samuel Vachon and Thomas Desruisseaux scored for Chicoutimi, who had a three-game losing streak come to an end.

Both meetings between these two went to overtime this season with each squad winning once.

After a scoreless opening period, it was beginning to look like the Sea Dogs may never crack Precourt. Finally at 16:05 of the second and Precourt caught out of position following a scramble, Mateiko opened the scoring to make it 1-0 Saint John. The goal was reviewed while the teddy bears were cleaned off the ice but it was declared a goal.

The Sagueneens quickly tied it back up though. At 17:44, Vachon ripped a shot past Robinson to make it 1-1 heading into the third.

Chicoutimi, who entered the game with the league's best power play, had two man advantages in the third period but couldn't score on either. The game would require extra time with shots just 8-5 in favour of Saint John in the final frame.

In overtime, Desruisseaux had the puck and cut through the crease, sliding it into an open cage to give Chicoutimi the extra point.

LINEUP

Simek - Reynolds - Mateiko

Akkouche - Elie - Reinhart

Calder - Pierre-Noel - Bellemare

Laforge - Benoit

Tivey - Mann

Bilodeau - Gauthier

Dassylva - Amyot

MacLean

Robinson

Leaver

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Egan Beveridge (injury), Jacob Beaulieu (injury) and Francis Woods (healthy) along with defenseman Joseph Ianniello (injury).

NOTES: Saint John went with the same lineup as Saturday with a few changes to the third and fourth lines... the Sea Dogs wore their black third jerseys again... with the Michel Buble impersonator performing, free cans of Bubly were offered to fans entering the building... just 32 seconds in, Benjamin Amyot took a hit along the boards and was in some difficulty. He had to be helped off the ice and down the tunnel... it was teddy bear toss day at TD Station with bears thrown on the ice following Saint John's first goal... Eriks Mateiko's teddy bear goal also extended his goal streak to four games... Reid Calder had three hits... attendance was 2,154.

lol pic.twitter.com/HA4CwnvzAE

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) December 3, 2023

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the Drummondville Voltigeurs on Wednesday at 7 p.m.