SAINT JOHN, N.B. — The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles fought back, but ultimately came up short in a 5-3 loss to the Saint John Sea Dogs in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play Tuesday at Harbour Station.
The setback was the third in a row for Cape Breton (3-5-0-0), while Saint John improved to 2-5-2-0.
Maxim Cajkovic and Anthony Boucher in the first period and Yohan Plamondon in the second gave the hosts a 3-0 lead. Mitchell Balmas struck on the power play, his fourth of the season, in the second to get the Screaming Eagles on the board.
After Boucher regained Saint John’s three-goal advantage in the middle stanza, Brooklyn Kalmikov found the back of the cage for his fifth of the campaign with 20 seconds to go in the second.
Ryan Francis struck midway through the third period to bring Cape Breton within a goal, but Plamondon fired his second of the game into the empty net to seal the deal with just under a minute to go in regulation.
In goal, Alex D’Orio turned aside 36 shots in the win. Kevin Mandolese started the game and allowed three goals on 10 shots. William Grimard took the loss, stopping 16 of 17 shots.
The Screaming Eagles continue their road trip with three games in three nights starting Thursday in Quebec against the Remparts. Friday, they’ll face the Victoriaville Tigres and Saturday, they’ll challenge the Rimouski Océanic.
Cape Breton returns home to face Rimouski on Oct. 18.
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• Screaming Eagles embark on four-game road trip
