GAME DAY 38: vs Islanders

The Saint John Sea Dogs (21-13-3-0, 45 points, 2^nd Maritimes, 8^th QMJHL) host the Charlottetown Islanders (14-19-2-2, 32 points, 5^th Maritimes, 16^th QMJHL) tonight at 7 p.m. at Harbour Station for the final game of the 2015

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

Last games: The Islanders are coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the Moncton Wildcats on home ice last night. Filip Rydstrom, Oliver Cooper and Daniel Sprong all scored for Charlottetown while Matthew Welsh made 47 saves in the loss. The Sea Dogs are coming off a 6-5 shootout win in Bathurst on Tuesday night. Adam Marsh, Nathan Noel, Spencer Smallman, Vincent Martineau and Sam Povorozniouk all scored for Saint John while Alex Bishop made 35 saves in the win.

2015-16 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs are 3-0-0-0 against the Islanders this season while Charlottetown is 0-3-0-0 against Saint John.

Last meeting: Dec. 5 at Harbour Station where the Sea Dogs defeated the Islanders 4-3. Matthew Highmore, Dawson Theede, Sam Povorozniouk and Spencer Smallman scored for Saint John while Charlottetown goals came from Filip Rydstrom (two) and Quinn O’Brien. Alex Bishop made 31 saves in the win while Mason McDonald made 22 in the loss.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Islanders: Defensemen Alexander McQuaid and Will Thompson and forward Oliver Cooper.

Player to watch: Daniel Sprong has three goals and an assist in two games with the Islanders since his return from the NHL. The 18-year-old forward had two goals in 18 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Three Things to Know

1. The Islanders are without forward Filip Chlapik (Czech Republic) and goaltender Mason McDonald (Canada) due to the world juniors. The Sea Dogs are without defensemen Jakub Zboril (Czech Republic) and Thomas Chabot (Canada).

2. The Sea Dogs, who are sporting a shorthanded lineup due to injuries and the world juniors, have picked up three of a possible four points in their past two games – but it has been an adventure. In those two games Saint John has given up a total of nine third period goals.

3. Like the Sea Dogs, the Islanders have been better on the road this season than at home. Eight of Charlottetown’s 14 wins this season have come away from Eastlink Centre.

Other notes: Today is the final day of 2015.

Out of town:

Acadie-Bathurst at Moncton - 2:00 PM AST
Drummondville at Rouyn-Noranda - 1:00 PM EST
Québec at Rimouski - 2:00 PM EST
Sherbrooke at Shawinigan - 2:00 PM EST
Gatineau at Victoriaville - 2:00 PM EST
Blainville-Boisbriand at Val-d'Or - 3:00 PM EST
Chicoutimi at Baie-Comeau - 4:00 PM EST
Cape Breton at Halifax - 6:00 PM AST
Charlottetown at Saint John - 7:00 PM AST

Up next:

Sunday, Jan. 3 at Cape Breton – 3 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 9 at Bathurst – 7 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 10 vs Rimouski – 3 p.m.