RECAP: Game 55. Dogs Lose 4-2.

FINAL: Gatineau 4, Saint John 2

SAINT JOHN – A young Saint John Sea Dogs defense couldn’t quite contain the Gatineau Olympiques on Wednesday night at Harbour Station.

The Sea Dogs had four rookie defensemen dressed due to injuries in a 4-2 loss to the Olympiques in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Despite being outplayed by Gatineau for stretches in the first two periods, Saint John was able to keep it close and had a pretty good third period. They also managed to keep Emile Poirier and Martin Reway off the scoreboard. 

The ‘Piques outshot the Dogs 31-10 in the first two periods but Saint John turned things around in the third, outshooting Gatineau 12-6.

Noah Zilbert had both Sea Dogs goals with both being assisted by Will Thompson and Thomas Chabot. Sebastien Auger made 33 saves in the loss.

Alexis Pepin, Taylor Burke, Jonathan Bourcier, and Jake Coughler scored for Gatineau. Burke and Adam Stevens also had two assists each. Robert Steeves made 20 stops in the win.

The loss means the Sea Dogs remain 16^th overall in the QMJHL standings. They remain two points back of the 14^th-place Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

FIRST PERIOD

Oliver Cooper had the first good chance of the game. He took a nice feed from Noah Zilbert but Robert Steeves stopped it.

Taylor Burke then had a chance for the Olympiques but fired high of the net. Gatineau was getting plenty of pressure on at this point. Martin Reway had a good chance in the slot but was padded away by Sebastien Auger.

Zilbert then made a another nice feed to an open Nathan Noel but the Sea Dogs rookie forward couldn’t get much on his shot and fired wide. Soon after, the Olympiques beat Auger upstairs but the whistle had gone due to a hand pass.

Alexis Pepin opened the scoring with some goal at 11:57 to make it 1-0 for the visitors. Not long after, Pepin had another good chance but hit the outside of the post.

Saint John went to the power play at 13:59. At 15:15, Will Thompson sent a pass from the point down to Zilbert in the slot. Zilbert then sent a wrister five-hole to tie it at 1-1.

But at 17:40, a Burke backhand shot beat Auger to give the ‘Piques a 2-1 lead after one.

Shots were 15-5 Gatineau in the first.

SECOND PERIOD

Adam Stevens had the first chance of the period in the first minute but was denied by Auger. It was all Gatineau early and it would stay that way for most of the period.

The ‘Piques went to the power play at 3:49. They had some good pressure on via puck possession but didn’t create any quality scoring chances. Back at even strength, the puck trickled just wide of the net.

Gatineau got another power play at 10:50. Once again, Gatineau had plenty of puck possession but not many scoring chances.

At 13:27, Jonathan Bourcier performed a wraparound and beat Auger to make it a 3-1 game.

Later on, Matthew Highmore sent a pass over to Jason Cameron who had an open net but was absolutely robbed by the paddle of Steeves.

Just after stepping out of the box for a holding call, Alexander McQuaid went back in for hooking at 16:17. Auger made a big stop early on in the Gatineau man advantage.

Gatineau made it 4-1 at 18:52 as Jake Coughler roofed a backhand shot past Auger.

Shots were 16-5 in favour of Gatineau in the second stanza.

THIRD PERIOD

Emile Poirier had a breakaway early in the third but was denied by the pad of Auger.

Jeremy Doucet headed off for cross checking at 2:10. But at 3:38, Poirier was called for slashing to give the Dogs some power play time. On the man advantage, Chabot made a nice pass to Zilbert who netted his second of the game at 5:28 to make it a 4-2 game.

At 8:00, Frank Schumacher headed off for boarding after a hit on Highmore. On the man advantage, Highmore was all alone in front and made a deke but was robbed by the pad of Steeves.

Back at even strength, Steeves allowed a rebound but recovered to stop Mathieu Joseph.

Fast-forward to the final minute, the Sea Dogs were unable to pull Auger until there was about 20 seconds left. In the final seconds, Noel had a chance but was stopped by Steeves.

Shots were 12-6 Saint John in the third.

The Sea Dogs went 2-for-3 on the power play while the Olympiques went 0-for-4.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the Moncton Wildcats on Friday night.