GAMEDAY 68: at Cape Breton

GAMEDAY

Saint John Sea Dogs vs Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

Tonight at 7pm

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

Centre 200 – Sydney, NS

PREVIEW

SYDNEY, NS – It ends tonight.

The Saint John Sea Dogs wrap up their 68-game regular season schedule tonight in Cape Breton when they take on the Screaming Eagles at 7pm. A win will make the Sea Dogs the first team in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League history to accumulate three consecutive 50-win seasons.

It’s been a strange and successful year for the Sea Dogs. Despite having so many players absent at times due to NHL camps, injuries, and international tournaments and having the league strip the team of a win, Saint John still managed to finish first overall in the QMJHL.

The Dogs enter their final regular season game with a record of 49-15-0-3 for 101 points. They will be the only team in the league to reach the 100-point mark this year. Saint John is 8-1-0-1 in their last 10 and have won two straight.

On the road this year, the Sea Dogs are 21-10-0-2 and have outscored opponents 127-96.

This will be the Screaming Eagles’ regular season finale as well. Their season certainly has not be a great one as they enter action today sitting 16^th overall in the league. Cape Breton has a record of 23-41-1-2 for 49 points. They are 2-8-0-0 in their last 10 and have lost two straight.

The Eagles are 17-15-0-1 at Centre 200 this season and have been outscored 137-123.

Saint John defeated Cape Breton 4-0 last night, will meet each other again tonight, and then will play at least four playoff games against each other beginning next Friday at Harbour Station. These two teams are going to be seeing a lot of each other over the next two weeks.

THE NUMBERS

	Saint John	Cape Breton
Record	49-15-0-3 (1st Maritimes)	23-41-1-2 (5th Maritimes)
Home Record	- - -	17-15-0-1
Road Record	21-10-0-2	- - -
Streak	2-0-0-0	0-2-0-0
Last 10	8-1-0-1	2-8-0-0
Goals For	291	215
Goals Against	176	299
Overall PP	23.2% (6th)	22.1% (8th)
Home PP	- - -	25.6% (5th)
Road PP	23% (4th)	- - -
Overall PK	81.3% (5th)	71.2% (17th)
Home PK	- - -	72.6% (17th)
Road PK	78.4% (7th)	- - -
PIM/GAME	16.7 (5th)	15.2 (12th)

LAST GAMES

The Sea Dogs and Eagles met last night at Centre 200. Charlie Coyle scored twice while Kevin Gagne and Stanislav Galiev added solo markers in the 4-0 Saint John win. Sebastien Auger made 29 saves for the shutout victory. William Racicot allowed four goals on 28 shots in the loss. The Sea Dogs went 2/5 on the power play.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Sea Dogs are 6-1-0-0 against the Screaming Eagles this season while Cape Breton is 1-6-0-0 against Saint John.

Cape Breton’s lone win over the Dogs came way back on September 16 at Centre 200. Saint John had a 4-1 lead in the second period but eventually blew it, losing 8-5. Aidan Kelly, Jason Cameron, Jason Seed, Spencer MacDonald, Devon Oliver-Dares, Kevin Gagne, Oliver Cooper, and Sebastien Auger (who was backup) were the only regular Sea Dogs to take part in that game due to NHL camps.

LEADING SCORERS

Danick Gauthier leads Saint John in scoring with 84 points (45G, 39A) in 65 games this season. Gauthier’s 45 goals are a team high while Zack Phillips leads the team in assists with 50.

Jonathan Brunelle leads Cape Breton in scoring with 84 points (30G, 54A) in 67 games this year. Brunelle leads the team in goals with 30 and assists with 54.

PROBABLE GOALTENDERS

Once again today, no idea who will start in goal. Either Mathieu Corbeil (36-10-0-1, 2.35 GAA, 0.912 SV%) or Sebastien Auger (14-2-0-2, 2.64 GAA, 0.897 SV%) for Saint John and either Philippe Trudeau (16-25-1-2, 3.97 GAA, 0.879 SV%) or William Racicot (8-14-1-0, 4.03 GAA, 0.856 SV%) for Cape Breton.

THINGS TO WATCH

If the Sea Dogs win today, they will become the first team in QMJHL history to record three straight 50-win seasons.

Danick Gauthier is a goal away from tying Mike Hoffman’s team record for goals in a single season. Gauthier currently has 45 while Hoffman registered 46 in 2009-10.

Saint John has allowed 176 goals against this year – the lowest total in the league. Shawinigan has allowed the second fewest with 178. The Cataractes play the Drummondville Voltigeurs today.

NOTES

• Ian Saab will serve the third game on his eight-game suspension tonight.
• Maxime Villemaire will not play because of a knee injury.
• Cape Breton is averaging 2,592 fans per game this season at Centre 200.
• Danick Gauthier is second in the league in goals with 45.
• Jonathan Brunelle is fifth in assists with 54.Zack Phillips is ninth with 50.
• Gauthier is 14^th in power play goals with 12.
• Brunelle is sixth in power play assists with 25.
• Ryan Tesink is seventh in shorthanded goals with three.
• Gauthier is fourth in game winning goals with seven.
• Jonathan Huberdeau is a league best +52.
• Huberdeau has a league high five shorthanded assists.
• Gauthier is second in dangerous shots with 162.
• Charlie Coyle is on a 10-game point streak.
• Coyle has recorded an assist in six straight road games.
• Coyle has gotten a point in 10 straight road games.

OTHER GAMES

Val-d'Or at Baie-Comeau - 4:00 PM EDT

Shawinigan at Drummondville - 7:00 PM EDT

Chicoutimi at Quebec - 7:00 PM EDT

Gatineau at Rouyn-Noranda - 7:00 PM EDT

NEXT GAME

Nest Friday night at Harbour Station it’s Round One, Game One of the President’s Cup Playoffs. The Sea Dogs will host the Screaming Eagles at 8pm in a game that will be aired coast-to-coast on Sportsnet.