Notebook: Trio of games ahead for Sea Dogs

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Another challenging week is ahead for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs, who had their losing streak reach six games on Sunday, host the Gatineau Olympiques on Thursday and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Friday.

This will be the first meeting of the season between the Sea Dogs and the Olympiques. Gatineau, expected to be one of the league's top teams this season, has been plagued by injuries in the early goings but still have a solid 7-3-2-0 record. They sit second in the QMJHL's Western Conference behind the Sherbrooke Phoenix.

Friday's contest will be just the second meeting of the year between the Sea Dogs and Gordie Dwyer's Titan. Saint John earned a 4-3 win in Bathurst to open the season on Sept. 25.

On Sunday, the Sea Dogs travel to Moncton to face the Wildcats at 4 p.m. Saint John is 0-2 against Moncton this season.

THE STRUGGLES

A few stats really stick out when examining Saint John's early season struggles.

The Sea Dogs are struggling to both score and keep the puck out of their own net. Saint John is averaging just 2.56 goals per game (16th in the QMJHL) despite averaging 31.44 shots per game (7th). At the other end, the Dogs are averaging a league worst 5.44 goals against per game. No other team is averaging above 4.5.

Saint John is also struggling with special teams. Their power play is operating at just 9.1% (17th) while their penalty kill is operating at a league worst 64.7%.

Things aren't good - but it's worth pointing out that Saint John has had a challenging schedule. They have played nine games and six of those have been against Quebec (1st overall), Sherbrooke (2nd) and Moncton (8th).

SCORING LEADERS

Through nine games, Brady Burns continues to lead Saint John in scoring. The overage forward has a team high nine points and also leads the squad in goals with six. He's been held pointless in just three games so far.

Peter Reynolds, who has had a real jump in his step since the Quebec road trip, leads the team in assists with five.

Veterans Charlie DesRoches and Jared Cosman are tied for the team's defensemen scoring lead with a goal and three assists each. DesRoches has appeared in two fewer games.

Cole Burbidge (three goals) and Noah Reinhart (two goals and an assist) lead Saint John rookies in points with three each.

RICHARD ON EARLY SEASON PLAY

16-year-old defenseman Jeremie Richard, Saint John's top pick in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft, has appeared in four games this season, recording one assist.

Richard talked about his playing time in a radio interview with John Moore on Saturday.

"It's part of the process of being a 16-year-old, especially me being a third-rounder this year," Richard said. "I've got a lot of development to make before I consistently hit the lineup every night."

The Moncton native appeared in all three of Saint John's road games in Quebec.

"That was a lot of fun in Quebec playing three games in three days. It's tough. But one day I was facing Sherbrooke, which is a really good team, and then the other I was facing Quebec. That's two really good teams in the QMJHL and it was a tough challenge. The score box didn't really end up as we wished but I think we still did good."

PLAYS OF THE WEEK

@TD_Canada's Top Play's are back! Every Monday, check back for the top 5 Plays of the week.

This week, we've got highlights from the start of the season, including 4 players with their first QMJHL goals! 🚨🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/8eYhx68aWX

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 24, 2022

DROVER BACK ON EAST COAST

Former Sea Dogs forward Alex Drover scored his first WHL goal with the Medicine Hat Tigers on Oct. 7 in Everett.

Cayden Lindstrom with the moves, Alex Drover with the tap-in, and the @tigershockey with the three-goal lead! pic.twitter.com/xK3cWGSjT1

— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 8, 2022

The 20-year-old forward was released by the Tigers earlier this week to make way for a new overager the WHL club acquired through a trade. Drover recorded two goals and two assists in six games with Medicine Hat.

Drover has joined the Maritime Hockey League's Valley Wildcats and made his season debut on Sunday, centering the team's top line. Drover played in 10 games with the Wildcats in 2018-19.

OTHER THINGS

• The Calgary Sun has a story on Jeremie Poirier and his early season success with the AHL's Calgary Wranglers.
• The Sea Dogs were ranked 17th in Stephane Leroux's QMJHL power rankings. The Cape Breton Eagles were 18th.
• While the Sea Dogs have lost six straight games, the Charlottetown Islanders have dropped four of their past five games.
• Saint John defenseman Vincent Despont had no goals and five assists in 41 games last season. In nine games this season, he has two goals.
• Acadie Nouvelle has an update on the rumours of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan potentially relocating to the Montreal area.
• Three undefeated teams remain in the CHL: the WHL's Red Deer Rebels (10-0) and Seattle Thunderbirds (8-0) along with the OHL's Ottawa 67's (9-0).
• The Memorial Cup host Kamloops Blazers are off to a 5-3-1-1 start, sitting fourth in the WHL's Western Conference.