GAMEDAY 40: at Acadie-Bathurst

GAMEDAY

Saint John Sea Dogs vs Acadie-Bathurst Titan

Tonight at 7:30pm

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

KC Irving Regional Centre – Bathurst, NB

PREVIEW

The second half of the Saint John Sea Dogs’ 2011-12 season kicks off tonight when they travel to Bathurst to take on the Titan at 7:30pm tonight.

The Sea Dogs enter play this evening with a record of 28-10-0-1 and sit first in the Maritimes Division and second overall in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. They are three points back of the Quebec Remparts who have played one fewer game.

Bathurst sits third in the Maritimes Division with a record of 18-18-2-2 for 40 points. They sit 10^th overall in the QMJHL standings.

Saint John is missing a boat load of players. They’ve struggled against Bathurst this season. Tonight should be interesting.

THE NUMBERS

	Saint John	Acadie-Bathurst
Record	28-10-0-1 (2nd Maritimes)	18-18-2-2 (3rd Maritimes)
Home Record	- - -	11-7-1-1
Road Record	12-7-0-1	- - -
Streak	2-0-0-0	0-1-0-0
Last 10	7-3-0-0	7-3-0-0
Goals For	169	153
Goals Against	115	153
Overall PP	23.1% (8th)	28.1% (1st)
Home PP	- - -	31.6% (1st)
Road PP	20% (11th)	- - -
Overall PK	76.4% (11th)	77.7% (7th)
Home PK	- - -	80% (9th)
Road PK	69.8% (15th)	- - -
PIM/GAME	16.4 (6th)	15.7 (9th)

LAST GAMES

Saint John’s last game was a 5-2 victory in Moncton back on December 18. Stephen MacAulay scored twice while singles came from Zach Phillips, Kevin Gagne, and Grant West. Mathieu Corbeil made 23 saves for the win.

Bathurst’s last game was a 5-1 loss in Quebec City on December 18. Christophe Losier scored the lone Titan goal. Jacob Brennan made 24 saves in the loss.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Saint John has struggled against the Titan this season and are only 1-2-0-1 against them.

In their last meeting, Bathurst beat Saint John 3-2 at Harbour Station. Matthew Bissonnette, Zack O’Brien, and Sebastien Trudeau all scored for the Titan while the Sea Dogs had goals from Aidan Kelly and Danick Gauthier.

LEADING SCORERS

Zack O’Brien leads the Titan in scoring with 66 points (31G, 35A). O’Brien also leads Bathurst in goals with 31. Sebastien Trudreau has a team high 45 assists.

Zach Phillips has scored a Sea Dogs high 54 points (19G, 35A). Danick Gauthier leads the team in goals with 31. Phillips has a team high 35 assists.

PROBABLE GOALTENDERS

Mathieu Corbeil (22-6-0-0, 2.34 GAA, 0.912 SV%) for the Sea Dogs and Robert Steeves (12-7-2-2, 3.42 GAA, 0.889 SV%) for the Titan.

M.I.A. FOR SAINT JOHN

Saint John is missing an impressive amount of players. Forwards Jonathan Huberdeau, Charlie Coyle and Tomas Jurco along with defenseman Nathan Beaulieu are all away at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Alberta. Forward Oliver Cooper is away with Team Atlantic at the World Under-17 Challenge in Windsor.

Forwards Stanislav Galiev (wrist), Ryan Tesink (knee), and Devon Oliver-Dares (head) have all been out hurt recently.

NOTES

• Bathurst is averaging a league worst 1,326 fans per game this season. That’s all we’ll say about that.
• Zack O’Brien and Danick Gauthier are both tied for the league lead in goals with 31.
• Sebastien Trudeau is second in the league in assists with 45.
• O’Brien leads the league in power play goals with 14.
• Gauthier has scored a league high six game-winning goals.
• Ian Saab has served a league high 105 penalty minutes.
• Phillips’ +31 rating is good for second in the league.
• O’Brien has taken a league high 116 dangerous shots.
• Telegraph-Journal - Titan have given Dogs all they can handle
• Titan website - Titan offering $4 tickets to children and students tonight. 
• Our live blog begins at 7:15pm this evening.

OUT OF TOWN

Halifax at Cape Breton - 7:00 PM AST

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

Blainville-Boisbriand at Victoriaville - 7:00 PM EST

Rimouski at Chicoutimi - 7:30 PM EST

Val-d'Or at Gatineau - 7:30 PM EST

NEXT GAME

The Sea Dogs host the PEI Rocket at 7:30pm on Friday at Harbour Station.