Sea Dogs Will Open Playoffs Away

A recent four-game losing streak has cost the Saint John Sea Dogs home ice advantage in the first round of the QMJHL playoffs.

The Sherbrooke Phoenix currently hold the eighth overall spot with 76 points. The Sea Dogs sit 10^th with 71 points and, with just two games left to play, will not be able to catch the Phoenix in the standings.

The Phoenix, Baie-Comeau Drakkar and Val-d’Or Foreurs each have 76 points and it looks as though one of those teams will be Saint John’s opponent in the first round. The Shawinigan Cataractes sit fifth with 79 points. The travel for the series won’t be ideal, but that’s the reality the Sea Dogs have gotten themselves into.

Saint John will play in Charlottetown on Friday and Halifax on Saturday to close out the regular season. They could finish as high as ninth in the standings or as low as 12^th.

If the playoffs started today, these would be the matchups:

Rimouski (1) vs Victoriaville (16)

Moncton (2) vs Chicoutimi (15)

Blainville-Boisbriand (3) vs Gatineau (14)

Quebec (4) vs Cape Breton (13)

Shawinigan (5) vs Halifax (12)

Val-d’Or (6) vs Rouyn-Noranda (11)

Baie-Comeau (7) vs Saint John (10)

Sherbrooke (8) vs Charlottetown (9)

The regular season ends on Saturday. 

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation