Notebook: What will happen Friday night?

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

MONCTON - Are we in for more crazy on Friday night?

The Saint John Sea Dogs and Moncton Wildcats meet Friday at Avenir Centre for an eighth time this season. It's been a wild season series - especially since the restart. Saint John defeated the Wildcats 5-4 in overtime on March 13 then suffered an ugly 6-2 loss on home ice on March 17. Last Sunday, the Sea Dogs erased a three-goal first period deficit and scored the game-winner in the final minute of regulation to beat the 'Cats 6-5.

Saint John is 4-3-0-0 against Moncton this season - but it has not been easy. Five of the seven meetings between the two have been decided by two goals or fewer.

Moncton 5 @ Saint John 6 (Mar 21 2021)

Moncton 6 @ Saint John 2 (Mar 17 2021)

Saint John 5 @ Moncton 4 (Mar 13 2021) OT 

Moncton 4 @ Saint John 9 (Nov 13 2020)

Moncton 2 @ Saint John 4 (Nov 10 2020)

Saint John 3 @ Moncton 4 (Nov 6 2020)

Saint John 1 @ Moncton 3 (Nov 4 2020)

After Friday's contest, the Sea Dogs and Wildcats are scheduled to meet again March 30 in Moncton and April 2 in Saint John.

QUITE A RESTART

It's been a battle, but the Sea Dogs are a strong 5-1-0-0 since New Brunswick teams returned to action earlier this month.

Don't know about y'all, but it's good to be back. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/WpxZI5zuiV

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) March 22, 2021

The Sea Dogs have outscored opponents 28-24 during this stretch for a per-game average of 4.7-4.0. Overall this season the Sea Dogs are averaging 4.0 goals per game (fourth best) and 4.05 goals against per game (fourth worst).

Saint John is averaging a league high 37.62 shots per game.

LEONARD'S FIGHT

Say what you want about fights but it's hard not to consider Liam Leonard's first period tilt with Jacob Stewart a turning point in last Sunday's game. The Sea Dogs were down 3-0 at the time and looked noticeably sharper after the fight.

Leonard, who was tossed from the match at 12:30 of the first period, was named the Sea Dogs' player of the game.

🔨&🧢 for the @mcinnescooper Player of the Game, @LiamRiptide24! 🥊He sparked the team when they needed it most! #andstill pic.twitter.com/srNpaclHCJ

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) March 21, 2021

It was a costly move though: according to the league website, both Leonard and Stewart have been suspended two games (believed to be automatic) for the "staged fight."

COMING UP

The Sea Dogs have had a few days off to prepare for what will be an extremely busy 10 days.

The Dogs will travel to Moncton on Friday to face the Wildcats at 7 p.m. On Saturday they return to TD Station to host the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Next week, the Sea Dogs will visit Moncton on Tuesday; travel to Bathurst Thursday; host the Wildcats Friday; and then host the Titan Sunday.

Saint John will play a total of six games over a 10 day period.

It will be a Maritimes only weekend in the QMJHL with the Quebec clubs wrapping up this round of protected environments this evening (Thursday). The QMJHL announced that its final round of protected environment events will take place March 31 to April 2 in Sherbrooke, Baie-Comeau, Rouyn-Noranda and Victoriaville.

UNDER-18 TOURNEY

One thing we've learned during the pandemic: when concerned about a possible cancellation, just hold the event in Florida or Texas.

That's just what USA Hockey is doing with this year's IIHF World Under-18 Championship, which will be held in Frisco (with socially distanced fans) and Plano, Texas next month.

RDS is reporting that QMJHL players may not be made available for the event thanks to the league's schedule. Typically the event features players from teams who have been eliminated from playoff contention. 

This could impact the likes of former Sea Dogs forward Joshua Roy and current Dogs forward Peter Reynolds, both of whom are likely on Canada's radar. RDS notes that Sea Dogs draft pick Guillaume Richard, currently playing in the USHL, could be a candidate for the squad though.

MACDONALD AND THE ICE

Former Sea Dogs forward Anderson MacDonald has one goal in three WHL games with the Winnipeg Ice heading into Thursday's action.

MacDonald scored his first goal on March 15 in Winnipeg's 6-4 win over the Swift Current Broncos.

MacDonald’s first! pic.twitter.com/EuhPHbTWBP

— Winnipeg ICE (@WHLWpgICE) March 16, 2021

The Ice are playing their entire season inside the WHL's Regina hub.

COOPER TURNS PRO

Yet another former Sea Dog/UNB Red has signed with the ECHL's Fort Wayne Komets.

🚨Player Moves🚨

Goaltender Jake Theut and forward Oliver Cooper have been signed by the Komets.

Also, defenseman Matt Murphy has been loaned to @Chicago_Wolves and goalie Jeremy Helvig has been recalled.https://t.co/fPGOSt9nf2

— Fort Wayne Komets (@FWKomets) March 25, 2021

Cooper would have played his fifth and final year with the Reds this season if not for the pandemic. The Fredericton native spent three seasons with the Sea Dogs which began on the 2012 President Cup winning squad. He spent his final two junior seasons with the Charlottetown Islanders.

The Komets currently feature former Reds Matt Boudens, Marcus McIvor and Randy Gazzola. Former Dog/Red Matt Murphy, meanwhile, has been loaned from the Komets to the AHL's Chicago Wolves.

BOBBY ORR NUMBERS

Bobby Orr is having quite a first season with the Halifax Mooseheads.

Heading into play tonight, Orr has 11 goals and 14 assists in 34 games with the Mooseheads. While the scoring leaders list is a bit misleading given the differences in games played across the league... Orr currently sits second in rookie goals and third in rookie points.

The Sea Dogs traded Orr, a fifth-round pick of the team in 2019, to the Mooseheads last June in exchange for 2020 second- (Simon Hughes) and fourth-round (Davide Patella) draft picks.