Game Day 23: at Shawinigan

SHAWINIGAN, QC - For the first time since their legendary meeting at the 2022 Memorial Cup, the Saint John Sea Dogs will take on the Shawinigan Cataractes.

The Sea Dogs defeated the Cataractes 5-3 in the final round-robin game of the Memorial Cup, advancing Saint John directly into the championship game. But it was how Saint John won the match that made it so legendary. The Sea Dogs erased a 3-0 first period deficit - thanks to a four-goal performance from William Dufour - in the comeback victory.

Both clubs are far away from the Memorial Cup spotlight this season with the Sea Dogs sitting 18th overall in the QMJHL standings and the Cataractes 13th. Even when these two are at the bottom of the standings, games between Saint John and Shawinigan are rarely boring. 

Game time tonight at Centre Gervais Auto is 8 p.m. Atlantic.

TV/Radio/Stream: None/93 CFBC/CHL TV

2022-23 regular season records: The Sea Dogs are 6-15-0-1 for 13 points (sixth Maritimes/10th Eastern/18th QMJHL) while the Cataractes are 11-13-0-2 for 24 points (fourth Central/seventh Western/13th QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies on Sunday. Cam MacDonald and Charlie DesRoches scored Saint John's only goals. Nikolas Hurtubise made 29 saves in the loss. The Cataractes are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Drummondville Voltigeurs on Tuesday. Felix Lacerte and Jeremy D'Astous scored for Shawinigan. Remi Delafontaine made 18 saves in the loss.

2022-23 head-to-head: This is the first meeting of the season between the Sea Dogs and Cataractes.

2021-22 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs were 2-0-0-0 against the Cataractes last season while Shawinigan went 0-2-0-0 against Saint John.

Last meeting: June 25 at TD Station where the Sea Dogs defeated the Cataractes 5-3 in the final round-robin game of the Memorial Cup. William Dufour scored four goals for Saint John while Jeremie Poirier added a single. Loris Rafanomezantsoa, Olivier Nadeau and William Veillette scored for Shawinigan. Nikolas Hurtubise made 26 saves in the win. Antoine Coulombe made 31 stops in the loss.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Cataractes: None.

Cataractes to watch: Felix Lacerte, a second-round pick of Shawinigan in the 2022 QMJHL Entry Draft, sits fifth in rookie scoring with 18 points in 26 games.

Random stat: The Sea Dogs are 0-3-0-0 in Quebec road games this season. They've been outscored 20-3.

Notes: Brady Burns leads Saint John in points with 21 and goals with 12... Nate Tivey leads the team in assists with 13... William Veillette leads Shawinigan in points (37), goals (19) and assists (18)... Shawinigan is 7-6-0-0 at home... Saint John is 2-8-0-1 on the road... the Sea Dogs are 1-3-0-0 against Central Division teams... Shawinigan is 3-0-0-0 against Maritimes Division clubs... Saint John has the worst power play in the league (13%) while Shawinigan's is the second worst (13.3%)... the Cataractes are averaging a league low 26.09 shots per game.

Out of town:

Cape Breton at Moncton - 7:00 PM AST

Victoriaville at Charlottetown - 7:30 PM AST 

Rimouski at Gatineau - 7:00 PM EST 

Québec at Val-d'Or - 7:00 PM EST 

Drummondville at Blainville-Boisbriand - 7:30 PM EST 

Halifax at Chicoutimi - 7:30 PM EST

Next game: The Sea Dogs continue their three-in-three Quebec road trip tomorrow night in Drummondville.