Notebook: Off to Quebec

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The Saint John Sea Dogs travel to Quebec for the final time this regular season this week.

The Sea Dogs visit the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and Chicoutimi Sagueneens on Thursday and Friday, respectively, before wrapping up the trip with a Sunday afternoon game in Shawinigan.

The Sea Dogs don't play these three teams too often but they have all met very recently. The Sagueneens visited Saint John on Jan. 23, the Drakkar on Feb. 8 and the Cataractes on Feb. 15. Saint John lost all three of those games.

Against Quebec based clubs this season, the Sea Dogs are 6-15-0-0

Saint John will look to end an eight-game losing streak on this trip. Their last win was Jan. 26 in Halifax.

PLAYOFF UPDATE

While this will be the final regular season trip to Quebec for the Sea Dogs, they will very likely face a Quebec club in the opening round of the playoffs – if they qualify, of course.

The Gatineau Olympiques earned a big 2-1 shootout win over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Saturday, pushing them within two points of the Sea Dogs for that 16th and final playoff spot.

Gatineau didn't play Sunday or Monday, so they now have a game in hand on Saint John.

The Olympiques will host the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies on Friday and visit the Sherbrooke Phoenix on Sunday.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 4-2

FINAL: Cape Breton 4, Saint John 2

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - A bad start was once again too much for the Saint John Sea Dogs to overcome on Monday afternoon at TD Station.

Much like Saturday's loss to the Shawinigan Cataractes, the Sea Dogs had a rough first period in a 4-2 loss to the Cape Breton Eagles. The Sea Dogs gave up a couple early goals and were trying to catch up all game long.

The Sea Dogs were outplayed by a significant margin in the opening frame, trailing 2-0 and getting outshot 22-6. Saint John rebounded in the final two periods, scoring two quick goals in the third to get within one. But it was simply too late for the Dogs, allowing an empty net goal in the final minute to fall 4-2.

The loss was Saint John's eighth straight overall and seventh straight at home.

Jacob Newcombe netted a pair of goals for Cape Breton while singles came from Angelo Fullerton and Joseph Henneberry. Jakub Milota made 35 stops in the win.

Olivier Groulx and Ben Cross scored for Saint John. Eric Young, who played most of Saturday's game after relieving Justin Robinson in the first period, made 36 saves in the loss.

Game Day 52: vs Eagles

SAINT JOHN - There's just over a month left in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League regular season and the Saint John Sea Dogs are about to get very familiar with the Cape Breton Eagles.

The Sea Dogs and Eagles play the first of five remaining meetings this afternoon at TD Station. Game time for this Family Day affair is 3 p.m.

Saint John has won two of the three meetings between the two this season – but they haven't met since mid-December. The Sea Dogs have been in a tailspin since then and will look to end a seven-game losing streak today.

This is Saint Johns' final home game until Feb. 27. They'll play their next three games in Quebec.

TV/Radio/Stream: None/Sea Dogs Radio/CHL TV

2024-25 regular season records: The Sea Dogs are 19-32-0-0 for 38 points (sixth Maritimes/10th Eastern/16th QMJHL) while the Eagles are 26-17-4-3 for 59 points (second Maritimes/fifth Eastern/10th QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 6-4 home loss to the Shawinigan Catarctes on Saturday. Dylan Rozzi, Elliot Dubé, Ben Cross and Olivier Groulx all scored for Saint John. Justin Robinson allowed two goals on six shots while Eric Young allowed three goals on 26 shots in relief. The Eagles are coming off a 5-4 home win over the Sherbrooke Phoenix on Friday. Cole Burbidge scored twice while singles came from Xavier Daigle, Jacob Newcombe and Cam Squires. Jakob Milota made 24 saves in the win.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 6-4

FINAL: Shawinigan 6, Saint John 4

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs fell into a hole early and were never able to fully dig themselves out of it on Saturday at TD Station.

The Shawinigan Cataractes scored three times in the first 8:39 of the first period in a 6-4 win over the Sea Dogs. Saint John was able to rebound from the rough start, getting within a goal on a few occasions but could never pull even with their rivals. 

The Sea Dogs have now lost seven straight games overall and six straight at home.

Former Sea Dogs forward Vince Elie once again had a strong showing against his old team, recording two goals and an assist. Oddly enough, Olivier Groulx, who the Sea Dogs acquired in the Elie deal, posted a goal and two assists.

Mathieu Plante, Matvei Girdin, Chad Lygitsakos and Louis-Philippe Fontaine also had Shawinigan goals. Mathys Fernandez made 30 stops in the win.

Groulx, Dylan Rozzi, Elliot Dubé and Ben Cross all scored for Saint John. Justin Robinson was pulled in the first period after allowing two goals on six shots in the opening 4:59. Eric Young allowed three goals on 26 shots in relief.

Game Day 51: vs Cataractes

SAINT JOHN - It's a rare Saturday afternoon home game for the Saint John Sea Dogs today.

The Sea Dogs will look to end a six-game losing streak when they host the Shawinigan Cataractes at 3 p.m. This is the first meeting of the season between the two with the rivals scheduled to face each other again next weekend in Shawinigan.

It's been a rough New Brunswick road trip for the Cataractes so far, falling 5-4 in overtime on Thursday in Moncton and 5-2 in Bathurst last night.

As part of the annual All For One weekend, today will be the first Kids Takeover Game at TD Station. Seven children have been chosen by the Sea Dogs to join them on game day, learning from different members of the team’s staff including the coaching staff, training staff, PA announcer, referees, DJ and more.

TV/Radio/Stream: None/Sea Dogs Radio/CHL TV

2024-25 regular season records: The Sea Dogs are 19-31-0-0 for 38 points (sixth Maritimes/10th Eastern/16th QMJHL) while the Cataractes are 28-18-1-4 for 61 points (third central/fifth Western/eighth QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 5-4 home loss to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar on Saturday. Zachary Morin, Nicolas Bilodeau, Benjamin Amyot and Reid Calder all scored for Saint John. Justin Robinson made 33 saves in the loss. The Cataractes are coming off a 5-2 loss in Bathurst last night. Brogan McNeil and Kody Dupuis scored for Shawinigan. Owen Bresson made 32 stops in the loss.

Tough week ahead for playoff bubble teams

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

It doesn't seem like anybody wants that last spot in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League post-season.

The Saint John Sea Dogs, who currently hold the 16th and final playoff spot, have lost six straight games. The 17th-place Gatineau Olympiques, meanwhile, have lost eight straight (but have earned four loser points during that stretch) while the last-place Victoriaville Tigres have lost six consecutive games.

The Tigres sit 10 points back of Saint John and, with 15 games remaining, are basically out of the playoff picture. It's possible they could make it, but it would require quite a turnaround and some luck.

It's likely to come down to Gatineau (17th, 34 points), Saint John (16th, 38 points) and the 15th-place Halifax Mooseheads (15th, 41 points) for the final spots. The Quebec Remparts and Val-d'Or Foreurs aren't that far off either, but let's focus on Gatineau, Saint John and Halifax for now.

Of the three, Saint John likely has the "easiest" schedule this week – but that's not saying much. It won't be an easy week for any of these teams.

Halifax (15th, 41 points)

Thursday, Feb. 13 vs Cape Breton (10th, 55 points)

Saturday, Feb. 15 at Moncton (1st, 78 points)

Monday, Feb. 17 vs Moncton (1st, 78 points)

Saint John (16th, 38 points)
Saturday, Feb, 15 vs Shawinigan (6th, 60 points)
Monday, Feb. 17 vs Cape Breton (10th, 55 points)

Gatineau (17th, 34 points)

Thursday, Feb. 13 at Rimouski (2nd, 73 points)

Saturday, Feb, 15 at Blainville-Boisbriand (8th, 59 points)

If the playoffs started today, the Sea Dogs would be moved into the Western Conference and face the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the opening round. The two met in last year's first round and, like last year, Saint John would be major underdogs.

The Sea Dogs and Mooseheads meet three more times in the regular season – Feb. 27 at Saint John, March 7 at Saint John and March 8 at Halifax – in what could be key games for playoff positioning.