Game Day 44: vs Sagueneens

The Chicoutimi Sagueneens (23-18-2-1, 3rd East, 9th QMJHL) make their lone regular season visit to Harbour Station tonight, taking on the Saint John Sea Dogs (27-12-3-1, 1st Maritimes, 3rd QMJHL) at 7 p.m.

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

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 7-2 win over the Moncton Wildcats on Tuesday at Harbour Station. Spencer Smallman and Samuel Leblanc each scored twice while singles came from Julien Gauthier, Matt Green and Cole Reginato. Callum Booth made 18 saves in the win. The Sagueneens are coming off a 4-3 shootout win in Halifax last night. Nicolas Roy scored twice while Frederic Allard added a solo marker. Julio Billia made 23 saves in the win.

2016-17 head-to-head: This is the first meeting of the season between the Sea Dogs and Sagueneens. They meet again on Feb. 18 in Chicoutimi.

2015-16 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs were 2-0-0-0 against the Sagueneens last season while Chicoutimi went 0-0-1-1 against Saint John.

Last meeting: Feb. 14, 2016 at Harbour Station where the Sea Dogs defeated the Sagueneens 6-5 in overtime. Sam Povorozniouk and Samuel Dove-McFalls each scored twice for Saint John while singles came from Spencer Smallman and Mathieu Joseph. Nicolas Roy, Antoine Marcoux, Dmitry Zhukenov, Taylor Cooper and Mark Bzowey scored for Chicoutimi. Marc-Antoine Turcotte made 15 saves in the win. Xavier Potvin made 37 stops in the loss.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Sagueneens: None.

Random stat: This game could feature four Carolina Hurricanes prospects: Nicolas Roy of the Sagueneens and Julien Gauthier, Spencer Smallman and Callum Booth of the Sea Dogs.

Three Things to Know
1. According to the Telegraph-Journal, Nathan Noel will return to the Sea Dogs lineup tonight after recovering from an upper body injury.

2. Mathieu Joseph, currently on a 21-game point streak, can grab the title of longest point streak in the QMJHL this season with a goal or an assist tonight. A point would also tie the Sea Dogs' franchise record for consecutive games with a point.

3. Roy, Gauthier, Thomas Chabot and Mathieu Joseph all played together with Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship.

Notes: Matthew Highmore leads Saint John in scoring with 67 points... Bokondji Imama leads the team in goals with 27... Highmore's 49 assists leads the team... the Sagueneens are led  by Joey Ratelle who has 50 points. He also leads the team in goals with 29... Frederic Allard has a team high 30 assists... the Sea Dogs are 15-5-2-0 at home... the Sags are 9-11-2-0 on the road... Saint John is 5-5 in their last 10 games while Chicoutimi is 6-4... Allard is fifth in defencemen scoring with 37 assists... Saint John has the league's best power play (29.5%) and penalty kill (84.6%)... the Sea Dogs have scored a league high 14 shorthanded goals... the Sea Dogs are averaging a league high 4.10 goals per game. The Sagueneens are averaging 2.70 goals per game, the second fewest in the league... Thomas Chabot has assists in six straight home games... Highmore has points in 11 straight home games.

Out of town:
Baie-Comeau at Halifax - 7:00 PM AST
Rouyn-Noranda at Sherbrooke - 7:00 PM EST
Drummondville at Victoriaville - 7:00 PM EST
Shawinigan at Blainville-Boisbriand - 7:30 PM EST
Charlottetown at Gatineau - 7:30 PM EST
Val-d'Or at Rimouski - 7:30 PM EST

Next game: The Sea Dogs host the Baie-Comeau Drakkar tomorrow at 7 p.m.