Recap: Sea Dogs lose 4-1

FINAL: Cape Breton 4, Saint John 1

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - It wasn't a pretty end to the Saint John Sea Dogs' five-game winning streak on Saturday.

The Sea Dogs were bettered in all areas by the Cape Breton Eagles, falling 4-1 at TD Station. It was Saint John's first loss in five games and the first time in seven matches they failed to earn at least a point.

Maxim Schafer scored twice for Cape Breton while Aiden McCullough and Noah Jettelson added singles. Lucas Beckman made 16 stops in the win.

Saint John struggled at both ends of the ice, giving the Eagles a number of odd-man rushes and quality chances while also being unable to generate a lot in terms of offense. The Sea Dogs were outshot 19-5 and 8-5 in the second and third periods, respectively. 

Saint John's only significant amount of offensive zone pressure came late in the first period, allowing Olivier Groulx to open the scoring and give the Dogs a 1-0 lead after one. Cape Breton took control in the final two periods though, scoring twice in each.

Even the Sea Dogs' power play, which has been so good all year, couldn't solve the Eagles, going 0/4.

Samuel Meloche made 28 stops in the loss.

Saint John won't have much time to think about this loss. They host the Val-d'Or Foreurs tomorrow at TD Station – which will not be an easy battle.

LINEUP

Seymour - Joseph - Glance

Howard - Groulx - Donovan

Morin - Cancik - Rozzi

Ozogany - Gauthier - Lemieux

Delarosbil - Chartrand

Charbonneau - Damphousse

Williams - Dunlap

Meloche

Courchesne

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forward Logan Roop (healthy) along with defensemen Olivier Duhamel (injury) and Julien Lanthier (injury).

NOTES: It was Saint John's Fight Cancer game. The Sea Dogs wore pink versions of their third jerseys... Olivier Lemieux returned from injury, playing his first game since Oct. 2 in Sydney... Lemieux and Aiden McCullough – who injured Lemieux with a hit in that Oct. 2 game – had a quick exchange during warmup... there were three video reviews in the first period... Jamie Glance extended his point streak to six games... Oliver Ozogany was the only Sea Dog with more than two shots on goal. He had a team high three... Cape Breton ended a three-game losing streak with the win... this was Saint John's first home loss of the year in regulation time... this is Saint John's first loss by more than two goals... attendance was 2,962.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the Val-d'Or Foreurs tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m.