SN'S FOURTH ROUND PREDICTIONS

SAINT JOHN – The President’s Cup final kicks off tonight at Harbour Station as the Saint John Sea Dogs host the Gatineau Olympiques at 7:00 pm. The winner of the best-of-seven matchup will earn a trip to Mississauga to play in the MasterCard Memorial Cup.

If anything, we hope Saint John fans take it all in. It’s rare for a team to win back-to-back regular season crowns. It’s even rarer for teams to participate in back-to-back President’s Cup finals.

THOUGHTS
For the second straight year, the Saint John Sea Dogs are heading into the President’s Cup final. After losing 4-2 in the final against the Moncton Wildcats last year, it’s hard to argue that there was a hungrier team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Last year the Sea Dogs were young and didn’t have a whole lot of experience. Although they were the higher seed, most predicted to the Moncton Wildcats to be victorious – and victorious they were.

But this year, things are different. The core of the team that lost in last year’s final has returned. And after a record breaking regular season, they are the favourites heading into the final.

Their opposition will be the Gatineau Olympiques, who, according to Neil Hodge, are “the most successful franchise in QMJHL history with seven championships, including three in the past eight seasons. The Olympiques have tradition on their side and have emerged victorious in seven of their nine trips to the league final.”

The Olympiques are the fifth-seeded team and upset the third-seeded Quebec Remparts in the third round. They have had a tougher trip to the finals, and we’ll soon find out if the longer, more intense series give the squad momentum or fatigue in the final.

"They're not going to quit,” said Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant to the Canadian Press. “We won't be complacent because we know this is the final. We just have to make sure we get up to our game level because we haven't played in a while."

Saint John has had an easier ride to the final but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been tested. Their second round series against Victoriaville caused some headaches and the Lewiston Maineiacs forced the Dogs to make a couple of dramatic comebacks in the semifinals.

Both teams have a deep lineup. Both teams have excellent coaches. Both teams are very hard to beat on home ice.

We’re taking Saint John in five because, well, we think they are the better team. The offense is insane. The defense is excellent. Whoever ends the game in net seems to always get the job done. The Sea Dogs will have to be ready, though, and play a 60-minute game.

Here are some other predictions and thoughts from around the interweb:

Neil Hodge – Times & Transcript
The Sea Dogs are heavily favoured and look for them to keep the QMJHL championship trophy in New Brunswick for a second consecutive season with a 4-1 series win.

Mikael Lalancette – Metro Montreal
Saint John in six.

Czechtacular – The Checking Line
Saint John in six.

Serge Poulin, Pro Hockey News
Saint John in six.

Neate Sager – Yahoo! Sports Canada
Saint John in five.

Jean-Francois Plante  - Le Droit
Saint John in five.

Cameron MacEachern - SN Staff
Saint John in six.

BOLD PREDICTIONS
Stephen MacAulay will score five game-winning goals.

SERIES PREDICTION
Saint John in five.