GAME DAY 50: at Blainville-Boisbriand

A preview of today’s game between the Saint John Sea Dogs and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada…

When and where: Today at 5 p.m., Centre d'excellence Sports Rousseau

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

Records: The Sea Dogs are second in the Maritimes Division and seventh overall in the QMJHL with a record of 26-16-1-6 for 59 points. The Armada are first in the West Division, third overall and ranked eighth in the CHL Top 10 with a 29-12-2-5 record for 65 points.

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 6-2 win in Drummondville last night. Nathan Noel had two goals for Saint John while singles came from Adam Marsh, Matthew Highmore, Adam Bateman and Bokondji Imama. Sebastien Auger made 27 saves in the win. The Armada are coming off a 4-3 shootout loss in Sherbrooke last night. Daniel Walcott had two goals and Philippe Bureau-Blais added a solo marker. Samuel Montembeault made 27 saves in the loss.

2014-15 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs are 1-0-0-0 against the Armada this season while Blainville-Boisbriand is 0-0-0-1 against Saint John.

Last meeting: Nov. 28 at Harbour Station where the Sea Dogs defeated the Armada 2-1 in a shootout. Philippe Sanche scored for Blainville-Boisbriand while Saint John’s goal came from Adam Marsh. Sebastien Auger made 23 saves in the win and Samuel Montembeault made 24 stops in the loss. Matthew Highmore’s sixth round shootout goal was the only goal scored in the breakaway contest.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Armada: None

Random stat: Armada goaltender Samuel Montembeault has the most shootout losses in the league this season with five. Sebastien Auger has the second most with four.

SJ notes: Nathan Noel leads the Sea Dogs in scoring with 19 goals and 46 points in 49 games this season… Adam Marsh has a team high 20 goals… Noel leads the team in assists with 27… 10-12-0-3 on the road this season… 3-5-0-2 in their last 10 games… Sebastien Auger has a league best GAA of 2.65 and SV% of .914… Marsh is seventh in rookie scoring with 38 points… Jason Bell is fourth in defensemen goals with 11… 16-7-0-1 when scoring first… 5-3-0-1 against West Division teams… the Sea Dogs have the third worst power play in the league with a rating of 16.7… their penalty kill rating of 83.9 is the best in the league.

BLB notes: Danick Martel leads the Armada in scoring and is second in league scoring with 34 goals and 77 points in 48 games this season… Nikita Jevpalovs has a team 38 goals which is good for second in the league… Martel leads the team in assists and is fifth in the league with 43… 17-6-1-0 at home this season… 7-1-1-1 in their past 10 games… Martel leads the league in power play points with 39… Samuel Montembeault has the third best GAA (2.71)… Daniel Walcott is 14^th in defensemen scoring with 30 points… 20-4-2-2 when scoring first… 9-1-0-1 against Maritimes Division teams… the Armada have the league’s best power play with a rating of 27.4… averaging 2.73 goals against per game, the fewest in the league… averaging 24.14 shots against per game, the fewest in the league… Martel and Jevpalovs have points in seven straight home games.

Out of town:

Shawinigan at Rimouski - 4:00 PM EST
Chicoutimi at Acadie-Bathurst - 7:00 PM AST
Baie-Comeau at Halifax - 7:00 PM AST
Sherbrooke at Gatineau - 7:00 PM EST
Victoriaville at Québec - 7:00 PM EST
Val-d'Or at Rouyn-Noranda - 7:00 PM EST

Next game: The Sea Dogs host the Rimouski Oceanic on Wednesday at 7 p.m.