Saint John bouncing back from losing streak

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

MONCTON - It was an impressive week for the Saint John Sea Dogs, picking up five of a possible six points over their past three games.

After losing six straight, the Sea Dogs won back-to-back games at home and then dropped a shootout contest on the road. Saint John defeated the Gatineau Olympiques 6-5 last Thursday; downed the Acadie-Bathurst Titan 6-1 on Friday; and then concluded the week by falling 3-2 in a shootout to the Moncton Wildcats.

The club now owns a 4-7-0-1 record, which is fairly solid considering how tough the team's schedule has been (of their 12 games, they've played two against Quebec, one against Sherbrooke, three against Moncton and one against Gatineau).

This "hot and cold" style is the norm for a rebuilding team like Saint John that features a mix of veterans and rookies. The big question is: which version of the Sea Dogs will we see more of as the first half continues?

Some takeaways from the past three games:

• This positive stretch has been costly for the Sea Dogs on the injury front. Goaltender Nikolas Hurtubise was injured in a collision against Gatineau and, although he stayed in the game, did not dress Friday or Sunday. According to the Telegraph-Journal (paywall), Peter Reynolds will miss four weeks with an upper body injury suffered Friday. Cam MacDonald, meanwhile, missed much of the second half of Sunday's game with an apparent injury. Those are three key, veteran players for Saint John.
• Over three seasons, goaltender Ventsislav Shingarov had appeared in a total of seven QMJHL games before this year. He's already played in nine this season and has had some rough moments. But he's looked much more comfortable over the past couple games, carrying a shutout into the third period in both. He was named to the QMJHL's Team of the Week with a 1-0-0-1 record, .950 SV% and 1.44 GAA.
• Also named to the Team of the Week was captain Charlie DesRoches, who posted two goals, four assists and a +3 rating this past week.
• After a slow start to the season, Connor Trenholm has scored in three straight games.
• With Reynolds out of the lineup and MacDonald unavailable, Saint John started Sunday's three-on-three overtime with Burns-Trenholm-DesRoches and then went to the much less experienced Burbidge-Elie-Tivey combo followed by Laforge-Simek-Cosman.
• Friday's game against Bathurst ended a streak of seven straight games where the Sea Dogs allowed five or more goals. Saint John's goals against per game average has dropped down to 4.80.
• The Sea Dogs are averaging 31.45 shots per game, the sixth most in the league. Brady Burns has recorded 54 shots on goal in 12 games, the 11th most in the QMJHL. He has seven goals on the season but could easily have more if a few bounces had gone his way.
• Something each of the past three games had in common: the Sea Dogs scored first and they carried a lead into the third period.
• The Sea Dogs play three games again this week: Wednesday in Charlottetown, Saturday in Cape Breton and Sunday in Halifax.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 3-2 (SO)

FINAL: Saint John 2, Moncton 3 (SO)

MONCTON - The Saint John Sea Dogs came up just short in their quest for a third straight win.

The Sea Dogs carried a 2-0 lead into the third period on Sunday at Avenir Centre but the Moncton Wildcats scored two goals in the final seven minutes of regulation to send the game into extra time. In the shootout, Vincent Labelle scored the lone goal to give the Wildcats the extra point and a 3-2 win.

Saint John played a solid road game and were certainly worthy of the point. Charlie DesRoches and Connor Trenholm scored for Saint John. Ventsislav Shingarov made 24 saves in the loss.

Miles Mueller and Yoan Loshing scored for Moncton. Vincent Filion made 22 stops in the win.

Saint John had a pretty strong first period, outshooting Moncton 8-4. They gave up some odd-man rushes but were able to recover on most. Brady Burns nearly opened the scoring, ripping a shot off the post for what was the period's best scoring chance.

The Wildcats had a bit more offensive jump in the second period but it would be Saint John opening the scoring at 11:42 when DesRoches ripped a shot over the blocker of Filion. Then at 14:13 and with Saint John shorthanded, Trenholm sped into the offensive zone and held off Etienne Morin to make it 2-0 Saint John.

Mueller got the Wildcats on the board at 13:03 of the third. Jonas Taibel was behind the net and sent the puck in front for Mueller who beat Shingarov through the pads, making it a one-goal game.

Moncton tied the game at 16:40. A Morin point shot was blocked but Loshing grabbed the puck, spun and quickly fired a shot over the glove of Shingarov to make it 2-2.

After a fairly uneventful overtime session, Labelle scored the lone goal of the shootout to give the Wildcats the extra point.

Game Day 12: at Moncton

MONCTON - The Saint John Sea Dogs travel to Moncton for the first time this season today.

After losing six straight games, the Sea Dogs have won back-to-back contests, defeating the Gatineau Olympiques and Acadie-Bathurst Titan on home ice.

The Sea Dogs face another tough challenge today, taking on a Wildcats team that has won three straight games and six of their past seven.

The Wildcats have defeated the Sea Dogs twice already this season, outscoring Saint John a combined 11-5. This is the first meeting between the two at Avenir Centre.

Game time this afternoon is 4 p.m.

TV/Radio/Stream: None/93 CFBC/CHL TV

2022-23 regular season records: The Sea Dogs are 4-7-0-0 for eight points (fifth Maritimes/ninth Eastern/17th QMJHL) while the Wildcats are 7-3-0-1 for 15 points (second Maritimes/third Eastern/eighth QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 6-1 home win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Friday. Nico Laforge, Cam MacDonald, Vince Elie, Eriks Mateiko, Brady Burns and Connor Trenholm scored for Saint John. Ventsislav Shingarov made 33 saves in the win. The Wildcats are coming off a 4-2 home win over the Gatineau Olympiques on Friday. Charles Beaudoin, Francesco Iasenza, Yoan Loshing and Etienne Morin scored for Moncton. Jacob Steinman made 29 saves in the win.

Francis, Guay score first pro goals

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Two former Saint John Sea Dogs scored their first professional goals on Friday.

Forwards Ryan Francis and Nicolas Guay both scored in the Trois-Rivieres Lions' 6-3 loss to the Newfoundland Growlers in ECHL action.

Francis netted a shorthanded goal at 13:19 of the first period.

Quelle feinte de Francis pour marquer son premier but dans les rangs professionnels!🚨 #Lions3R pic.twitter.com/y0JcaSk61N

— Lions de Trois-Rivières (@Lions3r) October 28, 2022

Guay scored shortly after at 15:42.

Nicolas Guay donne les devants 3-2 aux Lions!👊 #Lions3R pic.twitter.com/9WHFlYzC99

— Lions de Trois-Rivières (@Lions3r) October 28, 2022

Francis is in his first full season of pro hockey. The 20-year-old appeared in four games with the AHL's Stockton Heat last season before being sent back to junior for his overage season.

Heading into Saturday's action, Francis has a goal and two assists in five games with the Lions.

Guay, who captained the Sea Dogs in the first half of the 2019-20 season, played in 16 games with the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks last year after leaving the UNB Reds mid-season. He did not score in any of those AHL games.

The 23-year-old has a goal and an assist in five games with the Lions this season.

Other Sea Dogs alumni to appear in ECHL games this season include Olivier LeBlanc (Kalamazoo Wings), Samuel Dove-McFalls (Fort Wayne Komets), Nathan Noel (Newfoundland Growlers), Oliver Cooper (Fort Wayne Komets), Chase Stewart (South Carolina Stingrays) and Benjamin Gagne (Fort Wayne Komets).

Recap: Sea Dogs win 6-1

FINAL: Bathurst 1, Saint John 6

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - After dropping six straight, the Saint John Sea Dogs have now won back-to-back games.

The Sea Dogs earned their second victory in as many nights on Friday, defeating the Acadie-Bathurst Titan 6-1 at TD Station.

Nico Laforge, Cam MacDonald, Vince Elie, Eriks Mateiko, Brady Burns and Connor Trenholm all scored for Saint John. Ventsislav Shingarov made 33 saves in the win, earning his first victory since Oct. 7.

The Sea Dogs never trailed in this game and felt in control for most of it. They produced some solid penalty kills in the opening frame - including a shorthanded goal - which proved key as the game stayed close until the middle frame. Saint John netted three goals in the second and then secured the win with a couple more in the third.

Philippe Collette scored Bathurst's lone goal. Sergei Litvinov allowed four goals on 31 shots in the first two periods. Jack Howatt allowed two goals on 13 shots in the third.

Game Day 11: vs Titan

SAINT JOHN - Coming off a surprising upset win last night, the Saint John Sea Dogs will look to keep the positive momentum rolling tonight at TD Station.

The Sea Dogs downed the Gatineau Olympiques 6-5 last night thanks to a Cam MacDonald hat trick; a four assist night from Peter Reynolds; and a 42-save performance by Nikolas Hurtubise. The win was Saint John's first since Oct. 7 and ended a six-game losing streak.

Can the Sea Dogs have a repeat performance tonight? The Acadie-Bathurst Titan come to town with only a slightly better record than Saint John. The Titan have dropped two straight games and are 1-5-0-0 on the road this season.

Game time for Hockey Fights Cancer night is 7 p.m.

Tonight is Hockey Fights Cancer!

Head to TD Station wearing purple to show your support for cancer survivors, those currently going through treatments, and honor those who are no longer with us as the Sea Dogs take on the Titan at 7 PM.

🎟️: https://t.co/soWOVNn6ab pic.twitter.com/05V9tEBQBq

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 28, 2022

TV/Radio/Stream: None/93 CFBC/CHL TV

2022-23 regular season records: The Sea Dogs are 3-7-0-0 for six points (fifth Maritimes/ninth Eastern/17th QMJHL) while the Titan are 4-8-1-0 for nine points (fourth Maritimes/eighth Eastern/16th QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 6-5 win over the Gatineau Olympiques last night. Cam MacDonald netted a hat trick while singles came from Pavel Simek, Connor Trenholm and Charlie DesRoches. The Titan are coming off a 6-3 loss in Halifax on Sunday. Ben Allison, Ty Higgins and Dylan Andrews scored for Bathurst. Sergei Litvinov made 27 saves in the loss.