GAME DAY 44 - at Gatineau

A preview of tonight’s game between the Saint John Sea Dogs and the Gatineau Olympiques…

When and where: Tonight at 8 p.m., Robert Guertin Arena

TV/Radio/Webcast: Rogers TV/96.1 NewSong FM/QMJHL Live

Records: The Sea Dogs are second in the Maritimes Division and sixth overall in the QMJHL with a 24-13-1-5 record for 54 points. The Olympiques are sixth in the West Division and 16^th overall with a 17-24-0-4 record for 38 points.

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 3-2 win over the Drummondville Voltigeurs on Wednesday at Harbour Station. Justice Dundas had two goals, Spencer Smallman added a solo marker and Alex Bishop made 34 saves in the win. The Olympiques are coming off a 4-1 win over the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies last night on home ice. Alex Dostie had two goals while singles came from Jake Coughler and Tommy Veilleux. Jeremy Belisle made 25 saves in the win.

2014-15 head-to-head: This is the first meeting of the season between the two. They meet again on Feb. 28 at Harbour Station.

Last meeting: This is the first meeting of the season.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Olympiques: Joey Richard

Random stat: Joey Richard has eight goals and 15 assists in 44 games with Gatineau this season. He had three goals and two assists in 25 games with Saint John last year.

SJ notes: Nathan Noel leads Saint John in scoring with 37 points in 43 games… Adam Marsh leads the Sea Dogs in goals with 18… Noel has a team high 24 assists… Sebastien Auger has a league best .913 SV%... Marsh is ninth in rookie scoring with 32 points… Thomas Chabot is 13^th in defensemen scoring with 26 points… 9-10-0-2 on the road this season… 4-5-0-1 in their last 10 games… 15-6-0-1 when scoring first… 4-2-0-0 against West Division teams… their power play rating of 16.7 is third worst in the league… their penalty kill rating of 84.4 is first in the league… averaging 3.04 goals against per game, the second fewest in the league… Mark Tremaine has assists in five straight games.

GAT notes: Louick Marcotte leads the Olympiques in scoring with 47 points in 42 games… Marcotte has a team high 24 goals… Alexandre Carrier leads Gatineau in assists with 31… Yakov Trenin is sixth in rookie scoring with 37 points… Carrier is third in defensemen scoring with 37 points… 9-11-0-2 at home this season… 2-8 in their last 10 games but have won two straight… 10-8-0-2 when scoring first… 3-4-0-1 against Maritimes Division teams… their power play rating of 20.7 is 13^th best in the league… their penalty kill rating of 73.3 is second worst in the league… averaging 3.86 goals against per game, the third most in the league… averaging 27.34 shots per game, the second fewest in the league.

Out of town:

Shawinigan at Baie-Comeau - 4:00 PM EST
Rouyn-Noranda at Blainville-Boisbriand - 4:00 PM EST
Acadie-Bathurst at Chicoutimi - 4:00 PM EST
Val-d'Or at Rimouski - 4:00 PM EST
Charlottetown at Victoriaville - 4:00 PM EST
Drummondville at Cape Breton - 7:00 PM AST
Moncton at Québec - 7:00 PM EST

Next game: The Sea Dogs travel to Sherbrooke to battle the Phoenix on Sunday at 5 p.m.