Late goals have been costly for Sea Dogs

Jeff Parsons/Newfoundland Regiment

SAINT JOHN - Just four games into the regular season, there is certainly one trend the Saint John Sea Dogs will no doubt want to correct.

Third period goals against have proved costly for the Sea Dogs so far. In all three of their losses, the team allowed goals in the final half of the third period, goals that proved to be pivotal in the game's outcome.

Sept. 19 - 4-2 loss at Newfoundland: allowed game-tying goal at 11:50 of the third period and the game-winning goal at 16:12. Regiment added an empty netter at 19:31.

Sept. 25 - 4-3 SOL vs Moncton: allowed Moncton to take a 3-2 lead at 13:29 of the third period on a power play. Saint John tied the game with 1:15 to go before falling in a shootout.

Sept. 26 - 5-4 OTL vs Cape Breton: allowed game-tying goal at 13:20 of the third period on a power play. Eagles went on to win the game in overtime.

The Sea Dogs have been outscored 7-3 in third periods this season. They've outscored opponents 6-3 in first periods and 4-3 in seconds, respectively.

All three of Saint John's losses have been close games. The team is 1-1-1-1 after four games, which is certainly not bad – but this weekend's losses sting given how they played out. 

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 5-4 (OT)

FINAL: Cape Breton 5, Saint John 4 (OT)

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs blew 3-0 and 4-3 leads in an overtime loss to the Cape Breton Eagles on Saturday at TD Station.

Reece Peitzsche scored 1:07 into the extra frame to give the Eagles the 5-4 victory – the team's first of the season after three straight losses to start the year. The Sea Dogs, meanwhile, have now lost three straight after winning their season opener, falling to 1-1-1-1.

Saint John led 3-0 after the first period, scoring on their first two shots of the game. But Cape Breton slowly got back into it during the second period, scoring three straight to even things up at 3-3. Alexander Donovan scored a late power play goal to give the Dogs a 4-3 lead heading into the third.

In the final frame, the Eagles were able to swing momentum back in their direction, outshooting the Sea Dogs 11-5. It looked as though Saint John – who went to a shootout the night before – had ran out of gas at times.

At 13:20 of the the third, Liam Lefebvre scored on a power play to make it 4-4 and eventually force overtime, allowing Peitzsche to net the winner.

Along with Peitzsche and Lefebvre, Eliot Litalien, Elias Schneider and Jacob Hartlin also scored. Lucas Beckman recovered from a rough opening frame, making 21 stops in the victory.

Donovan, Oliver Ozogany, Thomas Charbonneau and Olivier Groulx scored for Saint John. Rafaël Courchesne made 22 saves in the loss.

The Sea Dogs will have the week to recover from this tough loss – but they have a chance at revenge. These two meet again on Friday at Centre 200.

Game Day 4: vs Eagles

JaimeLee Gouthro/Cape Breton Eagles

SAINT JOHN - An early season home-and-home between two of the CHL's top-ranked teams begins today at TD Station.

The Saint John Sea Dogs, ranked seventh in the latest CHL Top-10 rankings, host the Cape Breton Eagles, ranked third, today at 4 p.m. The two teams then battle on Friday night at Sydney's Centre 200.

Both teams will be looking to end early season losing skids today. The Sea Dogs have dropped two straight after falling in a shootout to the Moncton Wildcats last night. The Eagles, meanwhile, are still looking for their first win, starting the year off 0-1-0-2.

It's early, obviously, but this will be a big test for both clubs.

Today also marks the beginning of new Saturday start times for the Sea Dogs. All Saturday home games will begin at 4 p.m. this year at TD Station.

Stream/TV/Radio: FloHockey/None/Sea Dogs Audio Network

2026-27 regular season records: The Sea Dogs are 1-1-0-1 for three points (fifth Eastern/10th QMJHL) while the Eagles are 0-1-0-2 for two points (eighth Eastern/16th QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the Moncton Wildcats last night at TD Station. Olivier Lemieux, Dylan Rozzi and Alexis Joseph scored for Saint John. Samuel Meloche made 22 stops in the loss. The Eagles are coming off a 4-1 loss in Charlottetown last night. Noah Jettelson scored Cape Breton's lone goal. Lucas Beckman made 21 stops in the loss.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 4-3 (SO)

FINAL: Moncton 4, Saint John 3 (SO)

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - Liam Kilfoil scored the lone goal of the shootout to give the Moncton Wildcats a 4-3 victory over the Saint John Sea Dogs on Friday at TD Station.

The Wildcats start the year with three straight road wins. The Sea Dogs, meanwhile, fall to 1-1-0-1.

Niko Tournas scored twice for the Wildcats in regulation. Shayne Gould also scored. Jacoby Weiner made 32 saves in the win.

Olivier Lemieux, Dylan Rozzi and Alexis Joseph scored in Saint John's home opener. Samuel Meloche made 22 stops in the loss.

After a wild first period that saw the two teams combine for three goals in the first 2:32 of the game, things settled in during the second and third periods. After generating 12 shots in the opening frame, the Sea Dogs had their struggles hitting the net in the following periods.

Tournas scored on a power play at 13:29 of the third period to give the Wildcats a 3-2 lead late. But, with Meloche pulled, Joseph scored with 1:15 remaining to send the match into overtime and eventually a shootout.

Shots ended 35-25 Saint John and saw the Sea Dogs record eight shots in overtime.

Much like last Saturday in Newfoundland, Saint John struggled with odd man rushes at times. Meloche had to make a few stops off breakaways and the Wildcats hit a few posts.

Game Day 3: vs Wildcats

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The home portion of the Saint John Sea Dogs' schedule begins tonight at TD Station.

The Sea Dogs welcome the Moncton Wildcats in the team's 2026 home opener. Game time is 7 p.m.

Both teams opened the regular season last weekend. Saint John split a pair of contests in Newfoundland while Moncton won road games in Charlottetown and Halifax. Tonight's contest will be the third home opener the Wildcats have played in.

The Wildcats, coming off back-to-back appearances in the league final, have been dominant in Saint John in recent seasons. The Sea Dogs will look to change that this season – especially since Saint John should be icing a stronger team than what we've seen in recent years.

This could be the start of a fun season between Saint John and Moncton.

The Sea Dogs, meanwhile, will also look to be better on home ice as a whole. The team went 11-19-2-0 at TD Station last season, one of the league's worst home records.

Stream/TV/Radio: FloHockey/None/Sea Dogs Audio Network

2026-27 regular season records: The Sea Dogs are 1-1-0-0 for two points (fourth Eastern/eighth QMJHL) while the Wildcats are 2-0-0-0 for four points (second Eastern/fifth QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 4-2 loss in Newfoundland on Saturday. Dylan Rozzi and Thomas Charbonneau had Saint John goals while Rafaël Courchesne made 19 stops in the loss. The Wildcats are coming off a 6-5 overtime win in Halifax on Saturday. Niko Tournas had a hat trick for Moncton; Rian Chudzinski scored twice and Charlie Benigno added a single. Jacoby Weiner made 33 stops in the win.

Dogs look to end home struggles vs 'Cats

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

If the Saint John Sea Dogs want to make an early season statement, Friday's home opener might just be the place to do it.

The Sea Dogs will host the Moncton Wildcats on Friday at TD Station. The Wildcats are coming off back-to-back seasons of 50 wins or more and league final appearances. Moncton has also been dominant in Saint John during that run – and beyond.

According to the league's media report, the Wildcats are 16-0-1-0 at TD Station over the past four seasons. That includes going 4-0 last season, outscoring Saint John 21-10.

Moncton 5 @ Saint John 2 (Feb 6 2026) 

Moncton 4 @ Saint John 2 (Dec 7 2025) 

Moncton 8 @ Saint John 4 (Nov 21 2025) 

Moncton 4 @ Saint John 2 (Nov 2 2025)

When you look back on the performances of the two teams over the past few years, it does make sense that the results lean in Moncton's favour. But it's hard to believe the Sea Dogs haven't been able to sneak out a regulation win or two – especially when you consider Saint John is a surprising 5-10-1-1 at Avenir Centre over that same time frame.

These numbers don't include last year's first-round playoff series, which the Wildcats won in a four-game sweep. Moncton outscored Saint John 13-3 in the two games at TD Station.

Saint John's last regulation win over Moncton on TD Station ice came on March 25, 2022.

In a way, it feels like the Sea Dogs have some demons to exercise this season, demons that have come from a decade of struggles. They did that last week, winning the franchise's first game in Newfoundland since 2008. On Friday, they'll try and keep that trend going.