GAME DAY 29: vs Wildcats

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

When and where: Tonight at 7:30 p.m., Harbour Station

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

Records: The Wildcats are first in the Maritimes Division and second overall in the QMJHL with a record of 19-8-3-0 for 41 points. The Sea Dogs are second in the Maritimes and eighth overall with a 16-10-2-0 record for 34 points.

Last games: The Wildcats are coming off a 3-1 home win over the Charlottetown Islanders on Wednesday night. Conor Garland scored twice while Lane Cormier added a solo marker. Blade Mann-Dixon made 36 saves in the victory. The Sea Dogs, who had their Wednesday night game in Bathurst postponed, are coming off a 6-2 victory over the Sherbrooke Phoenix last Friday at Harbour Station. Sam Povorozniouk, Adam Bateman, Nicholas Blachman, Oliver Felixson, Mathieu Joseph and Nathan Noel all scored for Saint John and Marc-Antoine Turcotte made 17 saves in the win.

2015-16 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs are 0-3-1-0 against the Wildcats this season while Moncton is 4-0-0-0 against Saint John.

Last meeting: Nov. 12 in Moncton where the Wildcats pounded the Sea Dogs 5-0. Kevin Klima, Lane Cormier, Manuel Wiederer, William Bower and Liam Murphy all scored for Moncton while Sebastien Dupre made 29 saves in the shutout. Marc-Antoine Turcotte allowed three goals on 29 shots and Alex Bishop allowed two on three shots.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Wildcats: Blade Mann-Dixon

Random stat/fact: Tonight is Teddy Bear Toss Night at Harbour Station. The bears can be thrown onto the ice following Saint John’s first goal. Be sure to get there early. If you miss the opening goal you’ll have to awkwardly hold a teddy bear in your lap for the rest of the game.

MON notes: Conor Garland leads the Wildcats and the league in scoring with 17 goals and 61 points in just 25 games played… Garland’s 44 assists lead the league… Garland’s 17 goals lead the Wildcats… Garland also leads the league in shots… Kevin Klima is second in rookie scoring with 12 goals and 33 points while Kelly Klima is fifth with 13 goals and 24 points… Adam Holwell is ninth in defensemen scoring with 21 points… 10-5-2-0 on the road this season… 16-4-1-0 when scoring first… 14-5-2-0 against Maritimes Division teams… averaging 4.37 goals per game, the third most in the league… Garland has a 25-game point streak going. He also has goals in three straight games and assists in 14 straight… Manuel Wiederer has points in 14 straight games… the Wildcats have won two straight road games.

SJ notes: Matthew Highmore leads Saint John in scoring with seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points this season… Sam Povorozniouk leads Saint John in goals with 13… Highmore has a team high 17 assists… Marc-Antoine Turcotte has the second best SV% (.915) in the league… Thomas Chabot is 11^th in defensemen scoring with 20 points… Chabot leads all d-men in shorthanded points with three… the Sea Dogs are averaging the third most penalty minutes per game with 16.32… 7-5-1-0 at home this season… 13-3-0-0 when scoring first… 7-5-1-0 against Maritimes Division teams… their 14% power play rating is the worst in the league… their 85% penalty kill rating is second best in the league… Mathieu Joseph has goals in three straight home games.

Out of town:

Val-d'Or at Acadie-Bathurst - 7:00 PM AST
Rouyn-Noranda at Halifax - 7:00 PM AST
Victoriaville at Chicoutimi - 7:00 PM EST
Shawinigan at Québec - 7:00 PM EST
Cape Breton at Sherbrooke - 7:00 PM EST
Gatineau at Drummondville - 7:30 PM EST
Blainville-Boisbriand at Rimouski - 7:30 PM EST

Next game: The Sea Dogs host the Charlottetown Islanders tomorrow night at 7 p.m.