Recap: Sea Dogs lose 5-1

FINAL: Saint John 1, Moncton 5
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MONCTON - The Moncton Wildcats scored five unanswered goals in 5-1 win over the Saint John Sea Dogs on Friday at Avenir Centre.

The win gives the Wildcats a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven first round playoff series.

Gavin Cornforth scored a hat trick to lead the way for Moncton while Teddy Mutryn and Gabe Smith added singles. Rudy Guimond made 16 saves in the win.

Alexander Donovan scored Saint John's lone goal. Despite the loss, Rafaël Courchesne had a strong game in net, making 45 saves.

Saint John struggled to create quality scoring chances, registering just nine dangerous shots. Their lone goal came on a power play. The Wildcats, meanwhile, went 2/5 on the man advantage.

Saint John had a solid first period, limiting Moncton's quality chances and taking a 1-0 lead when Donovan scored on a power play at 16:44. The goal was scored during a four-minute high sticking penalty that saw the Sea Dogs struggle to create chances – but were able to score on one of the few they did get.

The Wildcats started to get things rolling in the second period. Cornforth netted back-to-back goals less than a minute apart and then Mutryn scored on a power play at 10:50 to give Moncton a 3-1 lead after two. Shots were 17-5 Wildcats in the middle frame.

Smith and Cornforth scored in the third to make it a 5-1 final. Shots were 20-5 in favour of the 'Cats in the third.

LINEUP

Fullerton - Groulx - Donovan

Côté - Joseph - Morin

Rozzi - Yared - Seymour

Héroux - Gauthier

Wasmer - Duhamel

Damphousse - Chartrand

Magnusson - Baldwin

Croteau

Courchesne

MacPherson

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without goaltenders Arseni Radkov (serving the fifth game of a five-game suspension); defenseman Oskar Drabczynski (healthy); along with forwards Olivers Murnieks (injury) and Matthew Krayer (healthy).

NOTES: The Sea Dogs went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen... affiliate Jase MacPherson was called up from the Kensington Wild to be Rafaël Courchesne's backup. Arseni Radkov served the final game of his five-game suspension... before the game, Wildcats goaltender Rudy Guimond was presented the Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy for posting the QMJHL's best GAA during the regular season. The team was also presented the Jean Rougeau Trophy for finishing first overall in the standings... this was the first hat trick of Gavin Cornforth's QMJHL career... Zachary Morin and Alexis Joseph each had three shots... faceoffs were 34-20 in favour of Moncton... this was the sixth time in Sea Dogs history they've allowed 50 or more shots in a playoff game... attendance was 3,953.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs and Wildcats meet for Game 2 of this best-of-seven series tomorrow night at 7 p.m.