Recap: Sea Dogs win 7-4

FINAL: Saint John 7, Victoriaville 4

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

VICTORIAVILLE, QC - For the second time this month, the Saint John Sea Dogs pulled off an upset win over the Victoriaville Tigres.

The Sea Dogs grabbed a 5-0 second period lead and went on to defeat the Tigres — one of the QMJHL's top teams — by a final score of 7-4 on Saturday night at Colisee Desjardins. Saint John previously defeated Victoriaville 2-1 on Jan. 13 at TD Station.

While the final score was lopsided in favour of the Sea Dogs, shots were not. Patrick Leaver faced 51 shots in the win and was named the game's first star. Victoriaville had 21 shots in the second period and 20 in the third.

The Sea Dogs were opportunistic with their chances, scoring four times on 14 shots in the opening frame. Overall, Gabriel D'Aigle allowed six goals on 24 shots in the loss. D'Aigle may have been pulled if Nathan Darveau was dressed — but he was listed as a healthy scratch due to a "school suspension."

Pavel Simek and Tyler Peddle each had a pair of goals for Saint John while Egan Beveridge, Drew Elliott and Brody Fournier added solo markers. Eriks Mateiko, Nate Tivey and Joseph Ianniello all had three assists each. 

Maxime Pellerin scored twice for Victoriaville while Mathis Aguilar and Justin Larose added singles.

The victory ended a four-game losing streak for Saint John. Victoriaville, meanwhile, has dropped back-to-back games as they try and chase down a higher playoff seed.

LINEUP

Mateiko - Elliott - Beveridge

Simek - Peddle - Beaulieu

Reynolds - Miller - Fournier

Calder - Benoit

Tivey - Ianniello

Bilodeau - Mann

MacLean - Amyot

Richard

Leaver

Robinson

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Nico Laforge (healthy), Benjamin Beaudry (healthy) and Olivier Groulx (healthy) along with defenseman Olivier Duhamel (healthy).

NOTES: The Sea Dogs went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen... Nico Laforge was listed as a healthy scratch... this was only Victoriaville's fourth regulation home loss of the season... Pavel Simek scored his first goal since Jan. 7... Patrick Leaver had an assist on Brody Fournier's empty net goal... Joseph Henneberry and Tommy Cormier each had three assists for Victoriaville... Joseph Ianniello and Nate Tivey both matched career highs for points in a game... Simek had four shots... Victoriaville's Nathan Darveau and Thomas Gagnon were both listed as healthy scratches due to a "school suspension"... Jacob Beaulieu was given a five-minute major and match penalty for a high stick in the second period... Saint John went 2/3 on the power play... attendance was 2,706.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs play the final game of this three-in-three road trip on Sunday at 4 p.m. Atlantic in Gatineau.