GAMEDAY 45: at Halifax

GAMEDAY

Saint John Sea Dogs vs Halifax Mooseheads

Tonight at 7pm

Radio: News 88.9 | Webcast: Telus | TV: None | Live Blog: SN

Halifax Metro Centre – Halifax, NS

PREVIEW

HALIFAX, NS – Two teams that did nothing on deadline day meet tonight at the Halifax Metro Centre as the Mooseheads host the Saint John Sea Dogs at 7pm.

Saint John enters play this evening with a record of 30-12-0-2, good for first in the Maritimes Division and second overall in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. They are one-point back of the Quebec Remparts who have played three fewer games.

The Sea Dogs are 12-9-0-1 on the road this year and have outscored opponents 78-74.

Halifax is second in the Maritimes Division and sixth overall in the QMJHL with a record of 24-12-1-3. They are 5-4-0-1 in their last 10 games and are coming off a loss.

The Mooeheads are 16-3-1-1 at the Metro Centre this season and have outscored opponents 89-66.

THE NUMBERS

	Saint John	Halifax
Record	30-12-0-2 (1st Maritimes)	24-12-1-3 (2nd Maritimes)
Home Record	- - -	16-4-1-1
Road Record	12-9-0-1	- - -
Streak	2-0-0-0	0-1-0-0
Last 10	5-4-0-1	5-4-0-1
Goals For	182	147
Goals Against	131	139
Overall PP	21.7% (9th)	23.6% (7th)
Home PP	- - -	23.3% (9th)
Road PP	18.9% (12th)	- - -
Overall PK	77.3% (10th)	76.4% (11th)
Home PK	- - -	80.2% (8th)
Road PK	70.3% (17th)	- - -
PIM/GAME	15.9 (8th)	13.9 (16th)

LAST GAMES

The Sea Dogs are coming off a 3-2 win over the Gatineau Olympiques on Wednesday night. Maxime Villemaire, Zack Phillips, and Danick Gauthier all scored for Saint John. Mathieu Corbeil made 26 saves in the win.

The Mooseheads are coming off a 5-4 loss to the PEI Rocket last night. Cameron Critchlow, Martin Frk, Konrad Abeltshauser, and Ryan Falkenham all scored for Halifax. Zach Fucale made 18 saves in the loss.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Sea Dogs are 3-1-0-0 against the Mooseheads this season. Halifax is 1-3-0-0 against Saint John.

Their last meeting was on December11 when the Moose beat the Dogs 3-2 at the Metro Centre. Matthew Boudreau scored twice while Martin Frk added a single for Halifax. Tomas Jurco and Danick Gauthier had goals for Saint John. Zach Fucale picked up the win in goal and Sebastien Auger took the loss.

LEADING SCORERS

Zack Phillips leads the Sea Dogs in scoring with 58 points (21G, 37A) in 37 games. Danick Gauthier has a team high 33 goals while Phillips leads the team in assists with 37.

Halifax is led by current/future superstar Nathan MacKinnon who has 50 points (19G, 31A) in 32 games. MacKinnon and Mathew Boudreau both have a team high 19 goals while MacKinnon leads the team in assists with 31.

PROBABLE GOALTENDERS

Mathieu Corbeil (24-8-0-0, 2.44 GAA, 0.908 SV%) for Saint John and Zachary Fucale (17-8-1-2, 3.03 GAA, 0.888 SV%) for Halifax.

WELCOME BACK

Nathan Beaulieu and Jonathan Huberdeau are expected to play tonight after being away from the team for nearly a month with Team Canada.

For Beaulieu, he had eight goals and 18 assists in 30 games before leaving. For Huberdeau, he had 10 goals and 18 assists in just 13 games before breaking his foot. He has not played with Saint John since November 5 in Baie-Comeau.

TRADES

Neither the Mooseheads or Sea Dogs made much noise during the QMJHL’s trading period.

The Mooseheads shipped out Gabriel Desjardins and acquired Brendan Duke. The Sea Dogs shipped out Scott Oke, Maxime Gravel, and Tyrone Sock and brought in Danny Chiasson, Maxime Villemaire and Jordan Moore. Villemaire has since left the team to think about his playing future.

NOTES

• The Mooseheads are averaging 6,283 fans per game this season at the Metro Centre.
• Danick Gauthier is second in the league in goals with 33.
• Zack Phillips is sixth in the league in assists with 37.
• Matthew Boudreau is second in power play goals with 12.
• Gauthier leads the league in game-winning goals with seven.
• Ian Saab leads the league in penalty minutes with 119.
• Phillips’ +29 rating is good for third in the league.
• Nathan MacKinnon is second in rookie scoring with 50 points.

OTHER GAMES

Rimouski at Baie-Comeau - 4:00 PM EST

Chicoutimi at Victoriaville - 4:00 PM EST

Cape Breton at Moncton - 7:00 PM AST

Gatineau at P.E.I. - 7:00 PM AST

NEXT GAME

The Sea Dogs host the Shawinigan Cataractes on Thursday at 7pm at Harbour Station.