GAMEDAY #2: vs. Saint John

GAME PREVIEW
HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS VS SAINT JOHN SEA DOGS
Puck drops at 7:00pm
TV: Webcast | Radio: News 95.7 | Live: @MC_MooseCountry
Scotiabank Centre (10,595) ~ Halifax, NS

The countdown to the home opener has no more days, it's just hours. There's been more than 6 months between home games which is the longest off season in team history. But the wait is over Moose Country, your Halifax Mooseheads are back at the Scotiabank Centre this evening for their 2016-17 home opener. The team's rookies played well in their first regular season game but how will they perform in front of the crowd in Halifax? We'll find out tonight and over the next couple weeks as the Moose play the next 5 of 6 matches at home. Saint John is a team that everyone is pegging once again to make it to the President's Cup final but they're starting the season without 7 of their big guns who are at NHL main camps. With back to back games I expect we'll see rookie goaltender Alexis Gravel get his first start at the Scotiabank Centre.

This is the first matchup between the two teams this season. Last year, Halifax was 2-5-1-0 against the Sea Dogs while Saint John had a 6-2-0-0 record versus the Mooseheads. The last matchup in the 2015-16 season was on February 27, the second game of a home and home series with Saint John taking a 5-1 victory in Halifax. Arnaud Durandeau scored the lone goal for the Mooseheads while Eric Brassard picked up the defeat but made 33 saves. 

OVERALL RECORDS
Sea Dogs: 0-1-0-0 = 0 points (6th in Maritimes division,  17th overall)
Mooseheads: 0-1-0-0 = 0 points (4th in Maritimes division, 12th overall)

LEADING SCORERSHAL: Max Fortier 3pts (2G & 1A), Arnaud Durandau 1pt (1G), Joel Bishop 1pt (1A)
SNB: Matthew Highmore 1pt (1G), Samuel Leblanc 1pt (1G), Daniel Delpagio 1pt (1A)

PREVIOUS GAMES
Saint John is coming off a 6-2 loss to the Islanders in their season opener last night. Veteran Matthew Highmore got the Sea Dogs first goal of the year while Alex Bishop picked up the defeat making 19 saves on 24 shots in Charlottetown's home opener.

Halifax is coming off a 4-3 defeat to the Wildcats on Friday evening. Max Fortier had 2 goals and an assist to lead the Mooseheads in scoring while Kevin Resop was credited with the loss, making 29 saves in Moncton.

NOT DRESSED - Jocktan Chainey (injury), Otto Somppi (NHL camp) & Jordan Lepage (suspension)

ALUM ON SEA DOGS- none

HEAD-TO-HEADSeptember 24  Saint John at Halifax - 7pm
December 16  Halifax at Saint John - 7pm
January 7  Saint John at Halifax - 7pm
January 8  Halifax at Saint John - 3pm
February 3  Saint John at Halifax - 7pm
February 26  Halifax at Saint John - 3pm
March 11  Halifax at Saint John - 7pm
March 18  Saint John at Halifax - 4pm

OUT OF TOWNDrakkar vs. Oceanic   5:00pm
Cataractes vs. Sagueneens   5:00pm
Screaming Eagles vs. Titan   7:00pm
Foreurs vs. Phoenix   8:00pm

AFTER THE BUZZERThe Mooseheads have a week off when on October 1st they welcome their provincial rivals the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles to town. Puck drops at 7pm