Recap: Sea Dogs lose 6-1

FINAL: Shawinigan 6, Saint John 1

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - A three-goal first period led the Shawinigan Cataractes to a 6-1 win over the Saint John Sea Dogs on Thursday at TD Station.

Shawinigan scored just 1:06 into the game and added two more late in the first. Saint John was awarded an early power play in the second but, just when it looked like the Sea Dogs might be able to grab some momentum, the Cataractes netted a shorthanded goal to make it 4-0.

Saint John controlled much of the play in the third period, outshooting Shawinigan 12-7. But it was too little, too late for the Sea Dogs as they could not find the scoreboard again. The Cataractes hit an empty net late in the frame and added another goal on top of that to make it a 6-1 final.

Felix Lacerte had a hat trick for Shawinigan while Jiri Klima, Jordan Tourigny and Noah McKinnon added singles. Former Sea Dogs forward Vince Elie, playing against his old team for the first time, added two assists. Felix Hamel made 25 saves in the win.

Eriks Mateiko scored for Saint John. Justin Robinson made 22 saves in the loss.

Special teams proved key in this one with Shawinigan going 2/6 on the power play (and scoring a shorthanded goal) while Saint John went 0/5.

The Sea Dogs conclude their five-game homestand with a 1-4 record as their troubles at TD Staton continue. They'll play their next eight games on the road.

LINEUP

Simek - Mateiko - Fournier

Elliott - Peddle - Beveridge

Calder - Laforge - Beaulieu

Reynolds - Groulx - Beaudry

Tivey - Ianniello

MacLean - Amyot

Bilodeau - Duhamel

Robinson

Leaver

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Coen Miller (healthy) and Luka Benoit (healthy) along with defensemen Matteo Mann (injury) and Jeremie Richard (healthy).

DEBUT: Forward Benjamin Beaudry, a ninth-round pick of Saint John in the 2022 Entry Draft, made his QMJHL debut. He recorded one hit and was a -1.

NOTES: Former Sea Dogs forward Vince Elie was in Shawinigan's starting lineup. He took part in the ceremonial faceoff and the game's opening faceoff... Shawinigan scored on their first shot of the game... Benjamin Amyot was still wearing a full face shield after taking a puck up high in Wednesday's game... the Sea Dogs have allowed shorthanded goals in back-to-back games... the Cataractes lead the league in shorthanded goals with 13... Eriks Mateiko's goal was his first point since returning from the world juniors... Pavel Simek had six shots... faceoffs were 39-24 in favour of Shawinigan... attendance was 1,879... Saint John won't play at home again until Feb. 15.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs travel to Cape Breton to take on the Eagles on Saturday at 7 p.m.