Saturday, November 25, 2017

RECAP: Sea Dogs lose 7-1

FINAL: Halifax 7, Saint John 1
SAINT JOHN - A sluggish start to the second period and an off night on the power play proved costly for the Saint John Sea Dogs on Saturday night.

The Halifax Mooseheads scored three times in the second period en route to a 7-1 victory over the Sea Dogs at Harbour Station. Saint John's power play, which has been a major part of the team's offence all season, went 0/7.

Arnaud Durandeau recorded a natural hat trick for Halifax while singles came from Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Walter Flower, Filip Zadina and Connor Moynihan. Blade Mann-Dixon made 30 saves in the win.

Kevin Gursoy scored for Saint John. Matt Williams allowed four goals on 18 shots in 40 minutes of action. Joel Goguen made 11 saves in the third period.

Saint John went to a four-minute power play at 5:26 after Connor Moynihan high sticked Radim Salda in front of the Saint John net. Just after the man advantage ended at 9:33, Gursoy put a loose puck past a fallen Mann-Dixon, making it 1-0 and making it rain teddy bears.

At 13:04, Joel Bishop was called for a cross check on Landon Quinney. While shorthanded at 13:39, Groulx ripped a wrist wrist shot through Joe Veleno's legs and past Williams' glove, tying things up at 1-1.

The Mooseheads wasted little time taking the lead in the second. Just 52 seconds in, Flower scored. Then at 2:17, Durandeau beat Williams to quickly give Halifax a 3-1 advantage.

The second period wasn't without Saint John scoring chances. On a power play, Isiah Campbell nearly scored on a deke but sent the puck wide. Shortly after, and with the Sea Dogs shorthanded, Nick Deakin-Poot broke in but was stopped by the pad of Mann-Dixon.

The Mooseheads took a 4-1 lead at 19:37 of the second, scoring on a five-on-three power play. Durandeau moved into the high slot and fired a wrist shot through a bit of traffic, extending Halifax's lead.

Durandeau completed the hat trick at 3:04 of the third, giving Halifax a 5-1 advantage.

Zadina made it 6-1 Mooseheads at 9:34, banging his own rebound past Goguen. Halifax then made it 7-1 at 12:36 when Moynihan was parked in front on a power play and put in a rebound, rounding out the scoring.

LINEUP
SCRATCHES
The Sea Dogs were without goaltender Alex D'Orio (lower body); defencemen Alexis Girard (healthy) and Thomas Ashe (healthy); and forwards Robbie Burt (suspension) and Cole Reginato (suspension).

NOTES
Defenceman Brendan O'Reilly returned to Saint John's lineup after missing Wednesday's game with an injury... there was a lengthy delay shortly into the game as the officials discussed what seemed to be an issue with Saint John's lineup card. The issue seemed to be resolved with no penalties handed out... Saint John scored first for just the fifth time all season... Joel Goguen made his first QMJHL appearance... Filip Zadina has goals in all three games he has played against Saint John... pretty good announced crowd of 5,278.

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs host the Moncton Wildcats tomorrow at 2 p.m.

2 comments: