Some numbers from the first half

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The first half of the season has to be considered a successful one for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs enter the holiday break with a 16-16-0-0 record, placing them sixth in the Eastern Conference and 11th overall in the QMJHL. Last year at Christmas, the Sea Dogs were 13-15-3-2, placing them seventh in the conference and 12th overall.

One noticeable improvement in terms of wins/losses: this year's Sea Dogs team has been much better on home ice. Saint John is 10-7-0-0 at TD Station after going 6-9-2-1 at home in the first half last year.

Here are a few other team related stats from the first half.

• Saint John is 10-7-0-0 at home and 6-9-0-0 on the road.
• Saint John is the only team in the QMJHL without an overtime or shootout loss. They are 5-0 in overtime and 3-0 in shootouts.
• The Sea Dogs are 10-3-0-0 when scoring first.
• Saint John's records against divisions:
• Maritimes: 11-10-0-0
• East: 0-2-0-0
• West: 3-1-0-0
• Central: 2-3-0-0
• The Sea Dogs have four wins against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. They've defeated the Charlottetown Islanders three times.
• Special teams have been a story. Saint John has the third worst power play with a rating of 15.3% but the fourth best penalty kill with a rating of 82.9%.
• Saint John's home penalty kill is operating at 85.5%, the second best in the QMJHL.
• The Sea Dogs have scored just one shorthanded goal, which ties them for the league low. They've allowed just two shorties though, which ties them for the second fewest. The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada have yet to allow a shorthanded goal.
• Saint John is averaging 2.83 goals per game, the fifth fewest in the league. They're allowing 3.40 goals against per game, the eighth fewest in the league.
• The Sea Dogs are averaging 32.68 shots against per game, the fourth most in the league. The eye test says, however, they are giving up fewer quality chances than they were a year ago.
• Saint John is 7-2-0-0 in games when leading after two but 5-12-0-0 in games when trailing after two.
• The Sea Dogs have outshot opponents in just nine games this season. They're 4-5-0-0 in those games.
• Saint John allowed 24 shots in the third period against Charlottetown on Sept. 27, the most by any team in any third period this season.
• Saint John recorded just one shot on goal in the first period on Nov. 2 against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, tying them for the fewest shots in the opening period of any game this season.

Here are some player related stats from the first half.

• Nate Tivey enters the break as Saint John's leading scorer with 28 points. He also has a team high 24 assists, with the next closest being Olivier Groulx with 15.
• Tivey is fifth in QMJHL defensemen scoring and second in assists
• Matteo Mann has two game-winning goals, the third most amongst QMJHL defensemen.
• Mann, Eriks Mateiko and William Yared all have two game-winning goals this season.
• Zachary Morin has moved into second in team scoring with 24 points. He is third in QMJHL rookie points; third in rookie goals (10); and third in rookie assists (14).
• Morin enters the break having scored in five straight home games.
• Yared is fifth in QMJHL rookie goal scoring with nine on the year. This is a bit of a surprise given that he scored 10 goals in 41 games with the Lac St. Louis Lions last season. He is on pace to double that.
• Yared also has the best shooting percentage amongst rookies (25.7%) and is 2/3 in shootouts.
• Dylan Rozzi is fourth in QMJHL rookie assists with 12.
• Some Charles-Edward Gravel numbers:
• His 10 losses tie him for third most in the league.
• His three shutouts tie him for the league lead. The franchise record is six, which was set by Mathieu Corbeil in 2011-12.
• He is the league leader in shootout wins with three.
• He's faced 40 or more shots only twice this season, which is a testament to Saint John's improving defensive play.
• Matthew MacLean was a -5 in Saint John's 6-1 loss in Sherbrooke on Oct. 25. That is the second worst +/- rating in a single game this season.
• The eight goals Justin Robinson allowed on Oct. 17 against Moncton ties him for most goals against in a single game this year.