Screaming Eagles Set For First Of Two Game Set With Sea Dogs
The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles will look to push a winning streak to three games as they take on the Saint John Sea Dogs in the Port City tonight. While the Eagles wear their road white uniforms, Saint John will be dressed for pink in the rink.
The Eagles are coming off back to back victories over the RImouski Océanic, and will look to bring their record to .500 with a win this evening. Cape Breton’s record is 5-6-1 (3-3-1 on the road), which puts them in eighth in the Eastern Conference. Saint John is four points back of the Eagles, in ninth in the conference, with a record of 2-6-3. Saint John has played much better at home, with a 2-3-2 record. Saint John is one of five teams to have already played three games in overtime, the most for a “Q” team in the 2018-19 season thus far.
Tonight’s game is a rematch from October 9th, which began a four game road trip for the Eagles that ended with the Rimouski game. 11 days ago at Harbour Station it was Saint John emerging victorious by a count of 5-3, as the Eagles rally from down 4-1 fell short.
The rally on Thursday was successful for the Eagles, tying the game in the final ten seconds on a goal by Gabriel Proulx (his second straight game with a goal) and a penalty shot winner in overtime from Mitchell Balmas. Balmas is currently on a five game point streak in which he has collected eight points. Forward Mathias Laferrière and defenseman Leon Gawanke are also on four game point streaks.
Saint John is coming off a 6-5 shootout loss earlier in the week in Charlottetown. This season 19 year old Robbie Burt has lead the Dogs in scoring with eight points in 11 contests, while 18 year old Yohan Plamondon is averaging a point a game through October.
While they are getting some production from older players, the story in Saint John is the future. The Sea Dogs lead the QMJHL with four players named to Canada’s World Under 17 roster: forward Josh Lawrence, along with defensemen Charlie DesRoches, Jérémie Poirier, William Villeneuve.
This evening the Eagles will be without captain Declan Smith. The 20 year old forward was given a one game suspension for participating in a staged fight during the game on Thursday night.
Tonight’s game goes at 7 PM, and you can catch all the action beginning with the pre-game show at 6:30 on 1270 CJCB (or online at cjcbradio.com) with Patrick McNeil. Go Eagles Go!
