Notebook: Veleno gets first playoff point

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Joe Veleno recorded his first career NHL playoff point on Sunday.

Veleno registered an assist on a Zachary Bolduc goal in the Montreal Canadiens' 6-2 Game 3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Veleno played 12:18 in the game and also recorded one shot and five hits.

What is this pass from Logan Stanley pic.twitter.com/y2LE7mKtMq

— Rink Rat Report (@RinkRatReport) May 11, 2026

Veleno has played in all four games for the Habs in their second round series against the Sabres. This is his first career appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Canadiens and Sabres are tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 on Thursday in Buffalo.

FLAMES SIGN ALCHORN

The Saint John Flames of the Beausejour Senior Hockey League have announced another signing with Sea Dogs connections.

Forward Zachary Alchorn will play for the team this fall. He was the second player to sign with the club after former Sea Dogs forward Nick Blagden.

According to Elite Prospects, Alchorn hasn't played competitive level hockey since the 2023-24 season when he appeared in 14 games with the Southern Senior Hockey League's River Valley Rock.

The Grand Bay-Westfield native spent most of his junior career with the St. Stephen Aces/Fredericton Red Wings franchise. He appeared in 16 games with the Sea Dogs during the COVID season of 2020-21, recording three goals and two assists. He added a goal and four assists in six playoff games.

Saguenéens take series lead with OT win

Bruno Girard/Chicoutimi Saguenéens

The Chicoutimi Saguenéens have taken a 2-1 series lead in the Gilles-Courteau Trophy final.

Thomas Desruisseaux scored at 16:58 of overtime to give the Saguenéens a 5-4 win over the Moncton Wildcats on Tuesday night at Georges Vezina Centre.

Moncton forced overtime with two third period goals. Teddy Mutryn scored on a power play at 10:39 to cut Chicoutimi's lead to 4-3 and then sconnected again at 19:35 to tie things. The game-tying goal was a strange one as defenseman Tomas Lavoie and goaltender Lucas Beckman both misplayed a flip in.

Wow, miracle for @monctonwildcats ! 🙏

Another weird bounce workd in Teddy Mutryn's favor, who scores with 25 seconds left in the 3rd, and it's 4-4!

We're going to overtime! 🥵#QPlayoffs | #Proxi pic.twitter.com/n9cPwvNLcv

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 13, 2026

It was a strange night overall. Even the overtime goal was a weird one as it appeared as though Rudy Guimond had made a pad save – but after review it was apparent that Guimond's pad was below the goal line.

Voilà l’angle vidéo qui a mené au crédit du but gagnant à Thomas Desruisseaux ce soir. #FinaleLHJMQ2026 pic.twitter.com/5tR31iYem6

— Mikaël Lalancette (@MikLalancette) May 13, 2026

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Max Vilen also scored a weird goal, which tied the game at 2-2 in the second period.

Trick shot 🎱 https://t.co/tBULAmnm0g pic.twitter.com/nMTmUT29YQ

— Moncton Wildcats (@monctonwildcats) May 13, 2026

Moncton opened the scoring early in the first period but were playing from behind for much of the game. It wasn't until the third period and overtime that the Wildcats were able to control play for long stretches – play they'll hope to carry over into a pivotal Game 4 on Wednesday night.

Jordan Tourigny scored a pair of goals for Chicoutimi while singles came from Desruisseaux, Emile Guité and Christophe Berthelot. Beckman made 37 saves in the win – including 11 in overtime.

Simon Binkley also scored for Moncton. Rudy Guimond made 35 saves in the loss.

Saguenéens win Game 2 to even QMJHL final

Daniel St Louis/Moncton Wildcats

MONCTON - Liam Lefebvre's goal with 3:08 remaining in the third period was the difference in Game 2 of the Gilles-Courteau Trophy final.

Lefebvre ripped a shot past Moncton Wildcats goaltender Rudy Guimond to give the Chicoutimi Saguenéens a late 3-2 lead. The Wildcats were unable to get organized in the final minutes and couldn't net an equalizer.

🗣️🔊 NON, CE N’EST PAS Alexander Ovechkin… MAIS BIEN LIAAAAM LEFEBVRE ! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IN3nZbW2wL

— Saguenéens (@SagueneensLHJMQ) May 10, 2026

The Game 2 victory by the Sags ties the QMJHL championship series up at 1-1. The series now shifts to Chicoutimi for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. 

In Saturday night's win, the Sags took a 2-1 lead early in the second period on an Alexis Bernier goal. The Wildcats tied it up at 2-2 at 8:05 when defenseman Evan Dépatie netted his third of the playoffs.

Jordan Tourigny had Chicoutimi's other goal. Lucas Beckman made 23 saves in the win.

Niko Tournas also scored for Moncton. Guimond made 17 saves in the loss.

This game felt like an extension of the second and third periods of Game 1. It was tight out there and it felt like the game was destined for overtime.

Wildcats take Game 1 of QMJHL final

Daniel St Louis/Moncton Wildcats

MONCTON - A dominant first period carried the Moncton Wildcats to a 5-2 victory over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in Game 1 of the Gilles-Courteau Trophy final on Friday.

The Wildcats scored three times and outshot the Sagueneens 16-5 in the opening frame. That included Caleb Desnoyers scoring just 20 seconds in.

Desnoyers scored and assisted on Moncton's other two first period goals. Gabe Smith scored twice for Moncton while Niko Tournas and Preston Lounsbury also connected. Goaltender Rudy Guimond made 26 saves in the win.

Wildcats defenseman Max Vilen is the lone former Saint John Sea Dog playing in the series. He took a puck to the ear late in the second period but would be okay. He finished the game a +3 with two shots.

The Sags improved in the final two minutes and certainly made the game tighter. It looked as though they may have tied it early in the third period but the goal was immediately waived off – and was again after a review – for goaltender interference.

Mavrick Lachance and Christophe Berthelot scored for Chicoutimi. Goaltender Lucas Beckman made 31 saves in the loss.

Moncton now leads the best-of-seven championship series 1-0. Game 2 of the series takes place Saturday night at Avenir Centre.

Wildcats looking to go back-to-back

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

MONCTON - The Moncton Wildcats are looking to do something no QMJHL team has done since the glory days of the Saint John Sea Dogs: win back-to-back championships.

The Wildcats advanced to a second straight league final following a Game 7 win over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Tuesday. Oddly enough, the Armada were the last team to play in back-to-back finals when they lost in both 2017 and 2018.

The Sea Dogs were the last team to win two straight QMJHL championships, winning in 2011 and 2012. Prior to that, no team had won back-to-back titles since the 2003 and 2004 Hull/Gatineau Olympiques.

Raising the Gilles-Courteau Trophy this season would give the Wildcats four QMJHL championships in their history – one better than the Sea Dogs.

The Wildcats, who have been around since the 1996-97 season (or 1995-96, depending on your perspective), have caught up to or surpassed the younger Sea Dogs franchise, who have been around since 2005-06, in a number of "key categories" over the past couple seasons.

	Moncton	Saint John
100-point seasons	6	4
Reg. season championships	3	4
QMJHL final appearances	5	4
QMJHL championships	3	3
Memorial Cup appearances	3	4
Memorial Cup final appearances	1	2
Memorial Cup championships	0	2

It's worth pointing out that the Wildcats had 101 points when the 2019-20 season was stopped due to COVID-19. The team was poised for a long playoff run that year.

Moncton has had three 100-point seasons since Saint John last won a playoff series in 2017.

Both this season and last, the Wildcats recorded over 100 points, finished first in the regular season standings and advanced to the league final. It's to be determined if they'll win the QMJHL title and earn a spot at the Memorial Cup – a tournament the franchise has struggled at.

Game 1 of the Gilles-Courteau Trophy final between the Wildcats and Chicoutimi Sagueneens takes place Friday night at Avenir Centre.

Notebook: Murnieks scores with Latvian national team

Ansis Ancovs/Latvian Ice Hockey Federation

It's been an eventful year for Olivers Murnieks at the international level.

The Saint John Sea Dogs forward played for Latvia at this year's World Junior Championship and the recent U18 World Championship. Now he's joined the Latvian men's team ahead of the IIHF World Championship – and scored in his debut.

#SJSeaDogs forward Olivers Murnieks made his debut with the Latvian national team today ahead of the #MensWorlds and had a goal in a 3-2 win over Norway!#GoDogsGo pic.twitter.com/emhwY2rwll

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) May 6, 2026

Latvia won the friendly 3-2 in overtime against Norway. 

Latvia's first game of the men's worlds is May 16 against Switzerland. 

Murnieks posted a goal and five assists in seven games at the U18 worlds, a tournament that may have given his NHL Draft stock a boost, writes Daily Faceoff. 

FINAL BEGINS FRIDAY

The Gilles-Courteau Trophy final begins Friday night at Avenir Centre.

The Moncton Wildcats will try to become the first team since the 2011 and 2012 Saint John Sea Dogs to win back-to-back QMJHL championships. It won't be easy though as they'll be facing a Chicoutimi Sagueneens team that finished just one point behind them in the regular season standings.

Wildcats defenseman Max Vilen is the lone former Sea Dog playing in the series. Vilen, who is on Moncton's second defensive pairing, has two goals and six assists in 15 playoff games.

Game 1 is Friday followed by Game 2 on Saturday. The series shifts to Chicoutimi for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. All games will air on TSN.