Some numbers from the first half

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The biggest statistical story of the Saint John Sea Dogs' first half was no doubt the play of captain Peter Reynolds.

Reynolds enters the holiday break sitting seventh in league scoring with 44 points, placing him just seven points back Mathieu Cataford, the league-leader. The overage forward leads the Sea Dogs in goals (20) and assists (24).

Reynolds has matched his career high for points in a season (which was set last year while appearing in just 43 games) and has already set a new career high for goals (previous high was 18, set in 2021-22).

Vince Elie's offensive contributions has likely been the biggest surprise. Elie has already surpassed his 2022-23 totals for points (he has 33 this season), goals (14) and assists (19). His consistency has allowed the Sea Dogs to have two fairly solid scoring lines.

Here's a look at a few other stats from the first half, beginning with some team numbers.

• The Sea Dogs have a 13-15-3-2 record for 31 points, placing them fourth in the Maritimes Division, seventh in the Eastern Conference and 12th in the QMJHL.
• Saint John's disappointing home record of 6-9-2-1 is one of the reasons why they sit below .500 at the break. The Sea Dogs have the fewest home wins in the QMJHL. They are 7-6-1-1 on the road.
•  Saint John is 2-3 in overtime and 0-2 in shootouts.
• The Dogs are 8-4-3-0 when scoring first.
• Record against each division:
• Maritimes: 9-8-2-2
• East: 2-2-1-0
• West: 2-3-0-0
• Central: 0-2-0-0
• Saint John's power play (16.5%) ranks 15th while their penalty kill (76%) is also 15th.
• Goals for-goals against by period:
• First: 29-35
• Second: 35-46
• Third: 40-40
• Saint John is averaging 3.17 goals per game (11th best) and 3.77 goals against per game (15th best). They are also averaging 28.31 shots per game (13th) and 32.05 shots against per game (15th).
• The Sea Dogs have outshot opponents just 10 times this season.
• The Sea Dogs had just two shots in a second period on Nov. 25 (a 4-0 loss to Rouyn-Noranda), placing them in a tie for the fewest shots in a second period this season.

And here's a look at some individual numbers.

• Reynolds sits fourth in the league in shots on goal (123).
• Mathis Gauthier is fourth amongst all defensemen in shots on goal (20).
• Elie ended the first half with points in eight straight road games.
• Patrick Leaver's 51 saves on Sept. 23 (a 4-3 shootout loss to Bathurst) was the most by any goaltender in the first half. Leaver made 23 saves in the second period alone in that game, which was the most by any goaltender in a single period.
• Three Sea Dogs are averaging a point-per-game or better: Reynolds (1.38), Eriks Mateiko (1.07) and Elie (1.03).
• Joseph Ianniello leads all Sea Dogs defensemen in scoring with 17 points (two goals and 15 assists) in 24 games.
• Noah Reinhart is a team best +13. Luka Benoit is a team worst -15.
• Rookie Egan Beveridge has 10 points (five goals and five assists) in his first 28 QMJHL games.
• Justin Robinson was also a story in the first half, certainly adding some confidence into the team's goaltending situation moving forward. Robinson is 6-6 with a 2.89 goals against average and a .903 save percentage.