Recap: Sea Dogs lose 3-2

FINAL: Drummondville 3, Saint John 2

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs came up short against the Drummondville Voltigeurs on Sunday at TD Station.

After struggling in the first two periods, the Sea Dogs took control in the third but could not quite complete the comeback, falling 3-2.

The Voltigeurs were the better team in the first half of the game, limiting Sea Dogs scoring chances. But as the game went along – and the Voltigeurs perhaps started to feel the fatigue of playing a third game in as many days – the Sea Dogs got back into it.

In the third period and the Volts up 3-0, Zachary Morin scored at 13:53 to make it 3-1. Then just over a minute later, Angelo Fullerton scored into an empty net after Volts goaltender Dayton Kitchener went off to the bench thinking a delayed penalty was being called against Saint John.

The Sea Dogs pulled Rafaël Courchesne for an extra attacker late in the game and were able to apply lots of pressure in the offensive zone but could not get the equalizer.

Kitchener made 32 saves in the win. Renaud Poulin had two Drummondville goals while William Dumont netted the other.

Courchesne, making a third straight start, made 26 stops in the loss.

The loss ends a two-game winning streak for Saint John and puts them back below .500 with a 9-10-1-0 record.

LINEUP

Fullerton - Groulx - Rozzi

Dubé - Yared - Donovan

Krayer - Joseph - Morin

Beveridge - Gauthier - Beaulieu

Vilen - Wasmer

Zubek - Baldwin

Croteau - Drabczynski

Courchesne

Robinson

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forward Olivers Murnieks (injured or sick) along with defensemen Olivier Duhamel (injury) and Cameron Chartrand (injured or sick).

NOTES: Saint John dressed the same lineup as Saturday's game... this was the second and final meeting of the season between the Sea Dogs and Voltigeurs. Drummondville won both games... this was Drummondville's only win on their three-game road trip. They lost in Moncton on Friday and Charlottetown last night... Renaud Poulin's goal at 6:06 of the first period ended Rafaël Courchesne's shutout streak. He hadn't allowed a goal in seven periods of play... Zachary Morin's goal was his first point since Oct. 30 and first goal since Oct. 29... Everett Baldwin had five shots... Alexis Gauthier and Elliot Dubé were the only Sea Dogs without shots on goal... faceoffs were 42-27 in favour of Saint John... hits were 20-7 in favour of Saint John... attendance was 2,387.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs are back in action on Thursday night when they host the Charlottetown Islanders at 7 p.m.