Recap: Sea Dogs lose 3-0

FINAL: Saint John 0, Sherbrooke 3

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SHERBROOKE, QC - The Saint John Sea Dogs were in it right until the end in a 3-0 loss to the Sherbrooke Phoenix on Sunday at Palais des Sports Léopold-Drolet.

Down 1-0 entering the third, the Sea Dogs had some chances to tie things up — including a power play — but couldn't convert. Lewis Gendron netted his second of the game with 1:18 remaining, beating Justin Robinson with a quick shot from the slot. Olivier Dubois secured the win with an empty net goal in the final minute to make it a 3-0 final.

Robinson, who has not dressed in recent games due to an injury, made his return and looked strong in doing so, making 43 saves in the loss.

Samuel St-Hilaire stopped all 25 shots he faced to earn his second straight shutout win.

The Sea Dogs, who were missing three regulars up front in Eriks Mateiko, Darien Reynolds and Jacob Beaulieu, head home with a 0-2-1-0 record on this final three-in-three road trip through Quebec. With the Quebec Remparts losing to the Halifax Mooseheads, the Dogs remain in a tie for the 16th and final playoff spot with 11 games to play.

LINEUP

Elliott - Beveridge

Peddle - Miller - Fournier

Simek - Groulx - Benoit

Calder - Laforge - Beaudry

Tivey - Ianniello

Bilodeau - Amyot

MacLean - Duhamel

Richard

Robinson

Leaver

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Eriks Mateiko (injury or sickness), Jacob Beaulieu (serving the first game of a three-game suspension) and Darien Reynolds (serving a one-game suspension) along with defenseman Matteo Mann (injury or sickness).

NOTES: Saint John leading scorer Eriks Mateiko, who scored in Saturday's game in Drummondville, was a late scratch due to injury or sickness... Jacob Beaulieu served the first game of a three-game suspension he earned for unsportsmanlike conduct in Saturday's game... Darien Reynolds served a one-game suspension for a kneeing major in Saturday's game... with Saint John missing a few forwards, the team went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen... Justin Robinson returned from injury and made his first start since Feb. 9... former Phoenix forward Coen Miller was a -1 against his old team... former Sea Dogs forward Chad Bellemare had one shot against his old team... Drew Elliott and Brody Fournier each had five shots... Sherbrooke went 1/2 on the power play while Saint John went 0/3... Saint John has lost eight straight road games... attendance was 3,154.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs are back on home ice on Friday when they host the first-place Baie-Comeau Drakkar at 7 p.m.