Recap: Sea Dogs win 2-1

FINAL: Victoriaville 1, Saint John 2

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - Patrick Leaver made 35 saves to help the Saint John Sea Dogs to a 2-1 upset win over the Victoriaville Tigres on Saturday at TD Station.

The Sea Dogs scored once in each of the first two periods and survived a third period push by the Tigres in the win. Shots in the third were 14-5 in favour of Victoriaville and 36-18 overall.

Despite the shot difference, it wasn't a greatly lopsided contest. The Sea Dogs were very much in this game, limiting quality scoring chances and were worthy of the two points. The Tigres, who sit fifth overall in the QMJHL standings and were riding a three-game winning streak, perhaps took their opponent a little too lightly — even after a wild game the night before in Bathurst.

The win snapped a four-game home losing streak for the Sea Dogs. Their last victory at TD Station was on Dec. 9.

Coen Miller and Nate Tivey scored for Saint John. Both goals came on the power play.

Egor Goriunov scored Victoriaville's lone goal halfway through the third.

LINEUP

Elliott - Simek - Mateiko

Peddle - Beveridge - Fournier

Reynolds - Miller - Beaulieu

Laforge - Groulx - Calder

Tivey - Ianniello

Bilodeau - Mann

MacLean - Amyot

Leaver

Robinson

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Luka Benoit (healthy) and Benjamin Beaudry (healthy) along with defensemen Jeremie Richard (healthy) and Olivier Duhamel (healthy).

NOTES: Patrick Leaver made a second straight start... Coen Miller played in his first game since Jan. 5 due to injury... Nate Tivey's goal was his first since Nov. 10... Miller had a goal and an assist... Saint John went 2/3 on the power play... faceoffs were 33-23 in favour of Victoriaville... Egor Goriunov extended his goal streak to four games... despite the weather, official attendance was 2,395, which was larger than Thursday's season low.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs take on the Charlottetown Islanders on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at TD Station.