Saturday, February 4, 2017

Game Day 49: at Cape Breton

Winners of six straight, the Saint John Sea Dogs (32-12-3-1, 1st Maritimes, 2nd QMJHL) are in Sydney this afternoon to take on the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (29-18-2-2, 3rd Maritimes, 6th QMJHL). Game time is 4 p.m. at Centre 200.

TV/Radio/Webcast: Eastlink TV/96.1 NewSong FM/QMJHL Live

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 7-4 win in Halifax last night. Cole Reginato scored twice while singles came from Joe Veleno, Spencer Smallman, Jakub Zboril, Samuel Dove-McFalls and Bokondji Imama. Callum Booth made 15 saves in the win. The Screaming Eagles are coming off a 6-4 loss to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan last night at Centre 200. Olivier LeBlanc, Giovanni Fiore, Mathias Laferriere and Phelix Martineau all scored for Cape Breton. Kyle Jessiman made 26 saves in the loss.

2016-17 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs are 4-2-0-0 against the Screaming Eagles this season while Cape Breton is 2-4-0-0 against Saint John.

Last meeting: Jan. 15 at Harbour Station where the Screaming Eagles defeated the Sea Dogs 7-6. Giovanni Fiore had a hat trick for Cape Breton while singles came from Drake Batherson, Olivier LeBlanc, Adam McCormick and Declan Smith. Matthew Highmore, Joe Veleno, Alexandre Bernier, Julien Gauthier, Samuel Dove-McFalls and Mathieu Joseph all scored for Saint John. Kevin Mandolese made 32 saves in the win. Alex D'Orio was pulled after allowing five goals on 23 shots. Callum Booth allowed two goals on seven shots in relief.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Screaming Eagles: Defenceman Olivier LeBlanc.

Random stat: Saint John has won four straight road games.

Three Things to Know
1. Mathieu Joseph, who was suspended for last night's game in Halifax, carries a 25-game point streak into tonight's contest. The longest point streak in the CHL this season is 26 games (Jeremy Bracco).

2. While only six points separate the Sea Dogs and Screaming Eagles, Saint John has played three fewer games and has a significantly better winning percentage (.708 compared to .608).

3. The Screaming Eagles can score. They've netted 207 goals, second only to the Charlottetown Islanders (213).

Notes: Matthew Highmore leads Saint John in scoring with 70 points... Bokondji Imama has a team high 32 goals... Highmore's 43 assists leads the team... Giovanni Fiore leads Cape Breton in scoring with 67 points... Fiore leads the QMJHL in goals with 40... Vasily Glotov has a team high 30 assists... Thomas Chabot is expected to return tonight after missing last night's game with an injury... former Sea Dogs captain Olivier LeBlanc was injured in last night's game... the Eagles had won four straight before last night's loss... the Eagles are 16-6-2-2 at home... Saint John is 15-7-1-1 on the road.

Out of town:
Rouyn-Noranda at Baie-Comeau - 4:00 PM EST
Val-d'Or at Blainville-Boisbriand - 4:00 PM EST
Gatineau at Shawinigan - 4:00 PM EST
Rimouski at Québec - 7:00 PM EST
Sherbrooke at Victoriaville - 7:30 PM EST

Next game: The Sea Dogs are in Bathurst on Wednesday to face the Titan at 7 p.m.

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