GAME DAY 37: at Bathurst

The Saint John Sea Dogs (20-13-3-0, 43 points), who sit second in the Maritimes Division and eighth overall in the QMJHL, travel to Bathurst tonight to take on the Titan (14-19-2-1, 31 points), who sit fourth in the Maritimes and 14^th overall, at 7 p.m. at the KC Irving Regional Centre.

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

Last games: The Sea Dogs blew a four-goal third period lead in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan last night at Harbour Station. Christophe Boivin, Mark Simpson and Jeffrey Truchon-Viel each scored twice for Bathurst. Mathieu Joseph had a hat trick for Saint John while singles came from Joe Veleno and Nathan Noel. Reilly Pickard made 25 saves in the win while Marc-Antoine Turcotte made 33 in the loss.

2015-16 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs are 1-1-1-0 against the Titan this season while Bathurst is 2-1-0-0 against Saint John.

Last meeting: Last night.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Titan: Defenseman Jason Bell.

Player to watch: Sea Dogs forward Mathieu Joseph, who had a hat trick last night, has 10 goals, nine assists and 53 shots in his past 10 games. The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect is now averaging over a point-per-game (19 goals and 37 points in 32 games).

3 Things to Know

1. After 18 home games, the Titan are averaging a league low 1,380 fans per game. That’s 310 fans per game lower than the Baie-Comeau Drakkar who have the second worst average attendance in the league.

2. With a shorthanded goal last night, Mathieu Joseph is now tied for the league lead in shorthanded markers with five. As a team, Saint John has 12 goals when down a man this season, which is second most in the QMJHL.

3. Last night’s five-goal third period by the Titan ties a league high for goals scored in a third this season.

Other notes: The Titan have won four straight games… Christophe Boivin has goals in three straight games… Antoine Morand has assists in six straight games… Saint John has picked up three more points on the road this season than at home.

Out of town:

Halifax at Cape Breton - 7:00 PM AST
Baie-Comeau at Québec - 7:00 PM EST
Shawinigan at Rimouski - 7:30 PM EST

Up next:
Thursday, Dec. 31 vs Charlottetown – 7 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 3 at Cape Breton – 3 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 9 at Bathurst – 7 p.m.