Late goals have been costly for Sea Dogs

Jeff Parsons/Newfoundland Regiment

SAINT JOHN - Just four games into the regular season, there is certainly one trend the Saint John Sea Dogs will no doubt want to correct.

Third period goals against have proved costly for the Sea Dogs so far. In all three of their losses, the team allowed goals in the final half of the third period, goals that proved to be pivotal in the game's outcome.

Sept. 19 - 4-2 loss at Newfoundland: allowed game-tying goal at 11:50 of the third period and the game-winning goal at 16:12. Regiment added an empty netter at 19:31.

Sept. 25 - 4-3 SOL vs Moncton: allowed Moncton to take a 3-2 lead at 13:29 of the third period on a power play. Saint John tied the game with 1:15 to go before falling in a shootout.

Sept. 26 - 5-4 OTL vs Cape Breton: allowed game-tying goal at 13:20 of the third period on a power play. Eagles went on to win the game in overtime.

The Sea Dogs have been outscored 7-3 in third periods this season. They've outscored opponents 6-3 in first periods and 4-3 in seconds, respectively.

All three of Saint John's losses have been close games. The team is 1-1-1-1 after four games, which is certainly not bad – but this weekend's losses sting given how they played out. 

A few other news and notes with the first couple weekends of action in the books...

• Dylan Rozzi continues to lead Saint John in scoring with six points and goals with four. Matyas Cancik has a team high four assists.
• Eight different players have scored for Saint John through four games.
• Special teams are off to a strong start. The Sea Dogs are 5/14 on the power play, good for third in the QMJHL. They're 13/15 on penalty kills, good for fourth.
• The Sea Dogs are off to a 0-0-1-1 start on home ice after posting one of the league's worst home records a year ago. It's obviously very early and a small sample size – but they've got to find a way to be better at TD Station this year. Six of the team's next seven games are on home ice.
• Perhaps not discussed enough prior to the season is just how difficult the Sea Dogs' schedule is to start. Starting the year in Newfoundland isn't easy. Back-to-back home games against Cape Breton and Moncton isn't easy. Then travelling to Cape Breton and hosting Halifax the third weekend of the season isn't easy either. It shows just how difficult the schedule will be for the Atlantic teams this year – but "easier" opponents (projected to be, at least) are coming as October moves along.
• The Wildcats are the only undefeated team remaining in the QMJHL but they've only posted one regulation time win.
• The Drummondville Voltigeurs and Baie-Comeau Drakkar are both off to 0-4 starts.