Recap: Sea Dogs lose 3-0

FINAL: Drummondville 3, Saint John 0

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - It was a respectable showing against one of the league's top teams, but the Saint John Sea Dogs could not snap their losing streak on Wednesday at TD Station.

The Sea Dogs lost a fifth straight game, falling 3-0 to the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Saint John is now five games below .500 and have yet to win since the holiday break ended.

The Volts, the defending QMJHL champions, sit second in the overall standings and loaded up at this year's trade deadline. They showed their dominance at times, not allowing the Sea Dogs to maintain puck control for very long.

The Sea Dogs were able to hang around with the Volts but allowing two goals in the first period put them into a hole. Saint John was able to register 21 shots with only four of those being listed as dangerous. The Dogs were outshot 13-3 in the middle frame.

Yan Gaudreau's goal at 17:23 of the third period secured the win for the visitors. Saint John was never able to control the puck long enough in the offensive zone to get an extra attacker on the ice.

Justin Larose, recently acquired from the Victoriaville Tigres, and Ethan Gauthuer, who just returned from the world juniors, recorded Drummondville's other goals.

Riley Mercer made 21 saves in the shutout win.

Charles-Edward Gravel made 33 stops in the loss.

With Saint John losing and Charlottetown winning, the Islanders leapfrog the Sea Dogs in the standings.

LINEUP

Reynolds - Groulx - Cross

Rozzi - Yared - Beveridge

Morin - Dubé - Peddle

Calder - Krayer - Beaulieu

Tivey - Amyot

Bilodeau - Mann

Lumsden - Bonnet

Gravel

Robinson

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forward Parker Forlin (healthy) along with defensemen Matthew MacLean (injury) and Olivier Duhamel (injury).

NOTES: For Drummondville, forward Ethan Gauthier returned from the IIHF World Junior Championship and slid onto the team's top line with Luke Woodworth and newcomer Justin Larose... Larose had a goal and an assist in his Drummondville debut... Nicolas Bilodeau had six shots... faceoffs were 39-25 in favour of Drummondville... Saint John native Sam Oliver had an assist and six shots... Riley Mercer recorded his league-leading fourth shutout... this was the fourth time this season the Sea Dogs have been shutout... this was Saint John's first home game since Dec. 14... attendance was 2,410

HIGHLIGHTS

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