Dogs Will Play Eagles In Quarterfinals

The Saint John Sea Dogs will face the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the second round of the QMJHL playoffs.

The Screaming Eagles advanced to the league’s quarterfinals with a 7-4 game six victory over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens tonight at Centre 200. The win gave Cape Breton their first playoff series win since 2009 when they swept the Sea Dogs in the first round.

This has the makings of an entertaining series that will feature Cape Breton’s excellent offense go up against Saint John’s star studded defense.

The Sea Dogs were 6-3-0-0 against the Screaming Eagles in the regular season. Two of Cape Breton’s wins came during the final weekend of the regular season when Dogs were battling a bunch of injuries.

There have been some feisty moments between the two this year, most recently Pierre-Luc Dubois’ hit on Luke Green that resulted in a two-game suspension. The two teams also finished in a tie for the league lead in fights with 52 each.

This will be the fourth time the two have met in the playoffs. All three previous times were in the first round. Cape Breton swept Saint John in 2009 before the Sea Dogs beat the Screaming Eagles in four straight in 2011 and 2012.

The Screaming Eagles franchise hasn’t made it past the second round of the playoffs since 2007. The Sea Dogs have made it to the semifinals four times since then and have never lost a second round series.

The schedule for the series has not yet been released. Saint John will have home ice advantage.

Here's who is playing who in the second round:

Rouyn-Noranda (1) vs Blainville-Boisbriand (13)
Shawinigan (2) vs Charlottetown (9)
Saint John (3) vs Cape Breton (7)
Gatineau (5) vs Moncton (6)

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation