GAME DAY 41: at Moncton

A preview of tonight’s game between the Saint John Sea Dogs and Moncton Wildcats…

When and where: Tonight at 7 p.m., Moncton Coliseum

TV/Radio/Webcast: None/96.1 NewSong FM/QMJHL Live

Records: The Sea Dogs are second in the Maritimes Division and fifth overall in the QMJHL with a record of 23-12-1-4 for 51 points. The Wildcats are first in the Maritimes, first overall in the league and are ranked eighth in the CHL Top 10 this week with a 26-11-0-2 record for 54 points.

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 6-4 loss to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan last night at Harbour Station. Spencer Smallman had two goals while singles came from Justice Dundas and Mitchell Dempsey. Sebastien Auger made 25 saves in the loss. The Wildcats are coming off a 2-1 win in Cape Breton on Sunday. Jacob Sweeney and Bronson Beaton scored while Alex Dubeau made 31 saves in the win.

2014-15 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs are 1-3-0-0 against the Wildcats this season while Moncton is 3-1-0-0 against Saint John.

Last meeting: Dec. 28 at the Moncton Coliseum when the Wildcats defeated the Sea Dogs 6-5. Jacob Sweeney had two goals for Moncton while singles came from Alexandre Jacob, Zack MacEwen, Cameron Askew and Zachary Malatesta. Luke Green had two goals for Saint John while singles came from Juraj Siska, Spencer Smallman and Mark Tremaine. Alex Dubeau made 38 saves in the win while Sebastien Auger made 26 in the loss.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Wildcats: Noah Zilbert

Random stat: Spencer Smallman has seven goals and three assists over his past seven games.

SJ notes: Nathan Noel leads Saint John in scoring with 36 points in 40 games… Adam Marsh leads the team in goals with 18… Noel has a team high 23 assists… 9-10-0-1 on the road this season… 4-6 in their last 10 games and have lost two straight… Samuel Dove-McFalls and Spencer Smallman each have four shorthanded points, good for second in the league… after an average performance last night, Sebastien Auger has slid to third in the league in GAA (2.66) and into a tie for first in SV% (.913)… Marsh is eighth in rookie scoring with 32 points… Thomas Chabot is 13^th in defensemen scoring with 25 points… 14-5-0-1 when scoring first… 16-8-1-2 against Maritimes Division teams.

MON notes: Conor Garland leads the Wildcats and the QMJHL in scoring with 69 points in 39 games this season… Ivan Barbashev leads the team in goals with 22… Garland has a team and league high 48 assists… 15-3-0-1 at home this season… 9-1 in their last 10 and have won two straight… Alex Dubeau is tied for the league lead in wins with 21… Jacob Sweeney is fifth in defensemen scoring with 32 points… Sweeney leads all d-men in goals with 11… 14-4-0-1 when scoring first… 20-5-0-1 against Maritimes Division teams… averaging 4.08 goals per game, the most the league… Garland has assists in seven straight games… have won eight straight at home.

Out of town:

Rimouski at Rouyn-Noranda - 7:00 PM EST

Next game: The Sea Dogs host the Wildcats on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Harbour Station.