Mooseheads could get reinforcements back in the lineup as they wrap up road schedule this weekend

There could be some reinforcements on the way for the Mooseheads this weekend as they wrap up their regular season road schedule in New Brunswick.

Ostap Safin and Jocktan Chainey could be back in the Halifax lineup on Saturday as they take on the Moncton Wildcats in their second last road game of the 2018-19 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League campaign.

If they are, indeed, ready to return, they could provide a big boost for a Mooseheads team coming off a disappointing road trip through western Quebec.

Halifax fell 8-4 to Rouyn-Noranda last Saturday night before dropping a 3-2 decision to the 14th-place Val d'Or Foreurs on Sunday afternoon.

The Mooseheads wrapped up their last Quebec road trip of the season with a 1-0 shutout victory over Gatineau on Tuesday night.

Since being acquired by the Herd on Sept. 24, Safin has dressed for the team in just 10 games, chipping in two goals and seven assists.

After suiting up in a pair of contests on the road in late September, the 2017 Edmonton Oilers' fourth rounder did not play a single game during the month of October due to a nagging lower-body injury.

He has been shut down since Nov. 25 but after practicing with his teammates on Thursday at the team's practice facility in Dartmouth, his return appears to be imminent.

Chainey was also on the ice on Thursday at the RBC Centre.

The 2017 New Jersey Devils' seventh round pick hasn't been in the Halifax lineup since Dec. 28. 

He has one goal and eight assists in 27 games this season.

HALIFAX (46-14-2-1, 95 pts) vs MONCTON (34-20,4-5, 77 pts), Saturday at 7 p.m. on NEWS 95.7

Head-to-head record: Halifax 6-0-1-0

Moncton leading scorers:
Jeremy McKenna 41-48-89
Jakob Pelletier 37-47-84
Alexander Khovanov 24-43-67
Mika Cyr 5-42-47

The Mooseheads have dominated their season series with the Wildcats this year, picking up 13 of a possible 14 points.

The two clubs haven't met since Feb. 2 at the Avenir Centre when the Mooseheads, led by a four point performance from defenceman Jared McIsaac, topped the Wildcats 4-2.

Halifax is a perfect 4-0 at Moncton's new home arena.

After a disastrous couple of months in which they plummeted down the league standings, the Wildcats appear to be back on track under new head coach John Torchetti, earning points in 10 of their past 12 games since that Feb. 2 loss.

Keep an eye on Mooseheads' leading scorer Samuel Asselin who was pointless in Val d'Or and Gatineau That's just the second time since being acquired by Halifax that the L'Assomption, Que. native has been held off the scoresheet in back-to-back games.

HALIFAX (46-14-2-1, 95 pts) vs SAINT JOHN (12-46-2-3, 29 pts), Sunday at 2 p.m. on NEWS 95.7

Head-to-head record: Halifax 6-0

Saint John leading scorers:
Maxim Cajkovic 21-22-43
Benjamin Gagne 15-19-34
William Poirier 14-14-28
Brady Burns 10-18-28

The Mooseheads will end their regular season road schedule in the place where it all began back on Sept. 21.

Halifax kicked off the 2018-19 campaign at Harbour Station with a 5-4 overtime win over the Sea Dogs.

But that was as close as the season series would be all year.

The Mooseheads are a perfect 6-0 against the Sea Dogs, outscoring them 44-9.

But despite the lopsided results, the game is an important one for both teams. 

The Mooseheads are just one point up on the Baie-Comeau Drakkar for first place in the Eastern Conference while the Sea Dogs trail the Shawinigan Cataractes by just three points for the final playoff spot.

The puck drops at 2 p.m. on Dartmouth Dodge Mooseheads Hockey on NEWS 95.7.