Sea Dogs have found their scoring touch

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

We knew going into the season that there was a chance – a chance – that the Saint John Sea Dogs could simply score their way out of problems and into wins.

Six games into the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League season, that's pretty much been the case.

The Sea Dogs have scored 27 goals in those games, tying them for third most in the league. Saint John's goals per game average of 4.50, the second highest in the QMJHL.

Saint John has scored at least five goals in each of their past three games – all wins. The Sea Dogs will look to extend that winning streak in Charlottetown on Friday night when they face the first-place Islanders at 7 p.m.

The Sea Dogs have also shown off some offensive depth this season with 13 different players scoring.

If the Sea Dogs were going to have success this season – especially early on – the offense was going to have to play up to its ability. That's been the case so far with returning players like Zachary Morin, Olivier Groulx, Dylan Rozzi and William Yared all taking a step forward and rookies Alexis Joseph and Olivers Murnieks stepping in and making immediate impacts.

Certainly the area for improvement: lowering scoring chances and goals against. The Sea Dogs are averaging 34.50 shots against per game – the second most in the league – and 4.00 goals against per game – the fifth most. In theory, those numbers should improve as the season moves along and this revamped defense core gets more comfortable.

A few other notable statistics:

• Of the 13 players who have scored for the Sea Dogs this season, four were first-time QMJHL goal scorers: Alexis Joseph, Alexander Donovan, Olivers Murnieks and Cameron Chartrand.
• Murnieks currently sits third in QMJHL rookie scoring (one goal and seven assists) and leads in assists. Joseph, meanwhile, sits fifth in rookie scoring (four goals and two assists) and leads all rookies in goals.
• Joseph is the only rookie to score a shorthanded goal so far. He's also been a solid 60.4% on faceoffs.
• Even with the strong scoring numbers, Saint John's power play has struggled. It currently sits 15th with a rating of 15.8%.
• Saint John exploded in second periods this weekend and have now outscored opponents 11-6 in middle frames. They've been outscored 9-8 in both first and third periods.
• The 42 shots the Sea Dogs allowed on Sunday is the third most any team has allowed in a game this season.
• Rookie defenseman Cameron Chartrand is a +8, tying him for the fifth best +/- rating in the league.