Recap: Sea Dogs lose 7-0

FINAL: Saint John 0, Moncton 7

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

MONCTON - The Saint John Sea Dogs dropped a third straight game on Sunday, falling 7-0 to the Moncton Wildcats at Avenir Centre.

Like a lot of games recently, the Sea Dogs couldn't contain their opponent's top offensive players while struggling to create quality scoring chances of their own. Shots ended 49-38 in favour of the Wildcats but the Sea Dogs only recorded 13 dangerous chances.

Julius Sumpf scored twice and added two assists in the victory. Yoan Loshing, Alex Zielinski, Riley Sampson, Olivier Boutin and Preston Lounsbury added singles. Keegan Warren made 38 saves in the shutout win.

Patrick Leaver made a few big saves in the game, giving Saint John a chance to stay in it. Leaver finished with 42 stops in the loss.

Saint John's recent slide has moved them out of a playoff spot for the time being. They currently sit 17th overall in the QMJHL standings. The top 16 teams qualify for the post-season.

LINEUP

Mateiko - Elliott - Simek 

Peddle - Miller - Fournier

Reynolds - Beveridge - Beaulieu

Laforge - Groulx - Benoit

Tivey - Ianniello

Bilodeau - Mann

Richard - MacLean

Leaver

Robinson

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Benjamin Beaudry (healthy) and Reid Calder (healthy) along with defensemen Olivier Duhamel (injury) and Benjamin Amyot (injury).

NOTES: Head coach Travis Crickard returned to the Sea Dogs bench following his involvement with Team Canada at the Youth Winter Olympics... Etienne Morin (illness) was out of the Moncton lineup... Ales Zielinski's first period goal — which came just 27 seconds in — was the first of his QMJHL career... Riley Sampson's third period goal was quickly reviewed for goaltender interference... Moncton went 2/3 on the power play while Saint John did not have any man advantages... the Sea Dogs continue to show improvement in the faceoff circle, edging Moncton 36-33... Nicolas Bilodeau had seven shots... some rough stuff late in the third but it doesn't appear anyone was given a fighting major... big crowd for a snowy Sunday afternoon. Attendance was 6,138... the Sea Dogs have been outscored 19-4 during this three-game losing streak.

HIGHLIGHTS

Coming soon.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs travel to Halifax on Thursday to face the Mooseheads at 7 p.m.