Remparts pull ahead in playoff race

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

With six games remaining, the Saint John Sea Dogs' playoff hopes are starting to fade.

The Sea Dogs sit 17th overall in the QMJHL standings and are four points behind the Quebec Remparts, who posted back-to-back shootout wins over the Gatineau Olympiques on the weekend. The Sea Dogs, meanwhile, dropped back-to-back games in Cape Breton.

The top 16 teams in the QMJHL's regular season standings qualify for the post-season. The 16th spot is the only playoff spot remaining.

The Sea Dogs currently own the first tiebreaker over the Remparts. Erasing a four-point deficit isn't impossible. But the Sea Dogs, to put it simply, need to win some games. And they'll also need the Remparts to go cold(er) over the next couple weeks.

Here's a look at the remaining schedules for both teams:

Saint John: vs Bathurst, at Charlottetown, vs Charlottetown, vs Moncton, vs Halifax, vs Halifax

Quebec: at Baie-Comeau, at Chicoutimi, vs Baie-Comeau, vs Blainville-Boisbriand, at Rimouski, vs Rimouski

Neither team has the easiest of schedules down the stretch here. One wildcard scenario is the possibility of opposing teams not dressing their top players in season finales.

The Sea Dogs have lost eight straight games. They also own the QMJHL's worst home record (8-16-3-2) — and will play five of their six remaining games at TD Station.

The Val-d'Or Foreurs, who have lost nine straight games, are technically still alive, but sit seven points back of Saint John.

If the playoffs started today, here's what the first round would look like:

Eastern Conference

1. Baie-Comeau vs 8. Charlottetown

2. Halifax vs 7. Bathurst

3. Moncton vs 6. Cape Breton.

4. Rimouski vs 5. Chicoutimi

Western Conference

1. Drummondville vs 8. Quebec

2. Rouyn-Noranda vs 7. Gatineau

3. Victoriaville vs 6. Shawinigan

4. Sherbrooke vs 5. Blainville-Boisbriand

The QMJHL's regular season ends March 23. The playoffs will presumably begin the following weekend.