With streaks headed in decidedly different directions, the Lewiston Maineiacs limped into Saint John on Sunday hoping to pull off an improbable win that would simultaneously end their own 12-game losing streak while interrupting the Sea Dogs’ 19-game string of wins.

Not so much.

After nearly blowing an early three-goal lead against a feisty Maineiacs’ squad, the Sea Dogs recovered and put the game out of reach with a three-goal outburst in the third frame, upending Lewiston 8-3 at harbour Station on Sunday.

“They’re a very good team playing at an exceptional level right now,” Maineiacs’ coach Don MacAdam said. “You don’t win 20 in a row in any league without having good players and having them play at the top of their game. We did get off to a rough start and we came back and started getting everyone contributing in the second period. But we gave up a goal late in the second, and you can look back at most of our games during this stretch, there’s that one turning point, and that was it this time around.”

Lewiston gave Jordan Kennedy the start in net, but MacAdam pulled him just 7:09 into the game after the Sea Dogs’ second soft goal.

“Adrien’s really been carrying the load for us and we wanted to try and give him some time off,” MacAdam said. “Also, we wanted to give jordan a chance to play his way out of whatever’s wrong, but it was evident early he was uncomfortable in there and we had to make the change.”

After Etienne Brodeur netted his eighth of the season early in the first to even the game at 1-1, the Dogs rattled off three in a row to take a 4-1 lead into the second frame.

The Maineiacs rallied with a pair of goals, one each from Jean-Francois Plante and Billy Lacasse, to pull within a goal.

But Nicholas Petersen righted the Sea Dogs’ ship with a goal at 19:39 of the second, to give the home team the momentum into the third.

“That makes a huge difference in the game at that point,” MacAdam said.
Nicholas Pard, Danick Gauthier and Jonathan Huberdeau scored in the third period to allow the Sea Dogs to pull away. Their win streak, now at 20 games, is the third-longest in QMJHL history, passing the 2004-05 Rimouski Oceanic, who were led by Sidney Crosby.

The Maineiacs’ 13th consecutive loss, meanwhile, ties the team for 15th on the list of all-time longest losing streaks in the QMJHL.