Thursday, January 12, 2012

GAMEDAY 46: vs Shawinigan

GAMEDAY
Shawinigan Cataractes vs Saint John Sea Dogs
Tonight at 7pm
Radio: News 88.9 | Webcast: Telus | TV: None | Live Blog: SN
Harbour Station – Saint John, NB


PREVIEW
SAINT JOHN – One of the most anticipated home games of the year goes down tonight at Harbour Station as the Memorial Cup champion Saint John Sea Dogs take on the Memorial Cup hosting Shawinigan Cataractes at 7pm.

Although Saint John is still missing a few key players due to injury, both teams will have plenty of stars in the lineup with the trade deadline and world juniors over.

Saint John enters tonight’s contest with a record of 31-12-0-2, good for 64 points. They sit first overall in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, just one-point up on the Remparts. Quebec has, however, played three fewer games. The Sea Dogs are 6-3-0-1 in their last 10 games and have won three straight.

The Sea Dogs have been solid this season at Harbour Station. They have a record of 18-3-0-1 and have outscored opponents 104-57.

Shawinigan has a record of 29-10-2-2 for 62 points. They sit second in the Telus East Division and fourth overall in the league. They are one-point back of the Remparts for the division lead and two points back of Saint John for the top spot in the league. The Cataractes have been hot of late, having won three straight and nine of their last 10.

The Cataractes are 13-4-2-1 on the road and have outscored opponents 74-55.

NUMBERS

ShawiniganSaint John
Record29-10-2-2 (2nd East)31-12-0-2 (1st Maritimes)
Home Record- - -18-3-0-1
Road Record13-4-2-1- - -
Streak3-0-0-03-0-0-0
Last 109-1-0-06-3-0-1
Goals For167188
Goals Against116134
Overall PP20.9% (10th)22.1% (9th)
Home PP- - -24.5% (6th)
Road PP19.1% (12th)- - -
Overall PK83.3% (4th)77% (9th)
Home PK- - -84.7% (4th)
Road PK84.8% (2nd)- - -
PIM/GAME16.6 (5th)16.0 (6th)

LAST GAMES
The Sea Dogs are coming off a 6-3 win in Halifax last Saturday. Jonathan Huberdeau, Stephen Anderson, Pierre Durepos, Kevin Gagne, Oliver Cooper and Zack Phillips all scored for Saint John. Gagne, Stephen MacAulay, and Aidan Kelly had two assists each. Mathieu Corbeil made 19 saves in the win.

Shawinigan is coming off a 4-2 win in Victoriaville on Sunday. Pierre-Olivier Morin, Anton Zlobin, Morgan Ellis, and Michael Bournival all had goals in the win. Gabriel Girard made 31 saves in the victory.

HEAD-TO-HEAD
Shawinigan and Saint John have played each other just once this season and that was back on December 3. Maxim Le Sieur and Michael Bournival scored to give Shawinigan a 2-0 lead halfway through the game. Oliver Cooper and Zack Phillips would score to tie it up, setting up Nathan Beaulieu’s overtime winner to give the Dogs a 3-2 win.


LEADING SCORERS
Saint John is led by Zack Phillips who has 59 points (22G, 37A) in 38 games. Danick Gauthier has a team high 33 goals while Phillips leads the team in assists with 37.

Anton Zlobin leads the Cataractes in scoring with 48 points (29G, 19A) in 41 games. Zlobin’s 29 goals are a team high while Michael Chaput has a team-leading 29 assists.

PROBABLE GOALTENDERS
Mathieu Corbeil (25-8-0-0, 2.46 GAA, 0.907 SV%) for Saint John and Gabriel Girard (12-3-1-0, 2.56 GAA, 0.911 SV%) for Shawinigan.

PRE-GAME STUFF
There will be a pre-game ceremony this evening honouring world junior players Jonathan Huberdeau, Nathan Beaulieu, Tomas Jurco, Charlie Coyle, Michael Bournival and Brandon Gormley. Oliver Cooper, who represented Team Atlantic at the under-17s, will also be honoured.

WELCOME BACK
Sea Dogs captain Jonathan Huberdeau will play in his first game at Harbour Station since October 29 – the night the team raised their championship banners to the rafters. He had a goal and three assists in that game.

It’s strange, but Huberdeau is currently on a nine-game point streak that began on October 21 in Halifax.

NOTES
  • Saint John is averaging 4,070 fans per game at Harbour Station this year.
  • Danick Gauthier is second in the league in goals with 33.
  • Zack Phillips is sixth in assists with 37.
  • Michael Bournival is second in the league in shorthanded goals with three.
  • Gauthier leads the league in game-winning goals with seven.
  • Yannick Veilleux is second in first goals with six.
  • Ian Saab has slipped to second in penalty minutes with 121.
  • Huberdeau leads the league in shorthanded assists with four.
  • If you haven't heard, Charlie Coyle will make his Sea Dogs debut tonight
  • This is the first of three straight road games for Shawinigan. They also visit Charlottetown and Bathurst on this trip.

OTHER GAMES
Drummondville at Halifax - 7:00 PM AST
Baie-Comeau at Blainville-Boisbriand - 7:00 PM EST
Victoriaville at Quebec - 7:00 PM EST

NEXT GAME
The Sea Dogs host the Drummondville Voltigeurs on Saturday at 7pm at Harbour Station. 

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