Sea Dogs Notebook

TICKETS

Tickets to Games 1 and 2 of the Saint John Sea Dogs’ semi-final playoff series went on sale this morning at Harbour Station. Game 1 will be played next Friday, April 20 at 7:30pm and Game 2 on Sunday, April 22 at 3pm.

The Sea Dogs’ opponent still has not been determined yet and won’t be until at least Sunday. Quebec can eliminate Halifax tonight in Game 5 while Chicoutimi/Shawinigan and Rimouski/Blainville-Boisbriand are tied 2-2 entering action this evening. Saint John will play the lowest seed that advances. They cannot play the Cataractes or the Armada.

COMPARING

Over at Coming Down The Pipe, Guy Flaming has a post comparing the CHL’s two remaining undefeated playoff teams – the Sea Dogs and the Edmonton Oil Kings.

“Edmonton has largely dominated their opposition but not to the ridiculous lengths of their undefeated counterparts from the QMJHL,” writes Flaming. “While Saint John has amassed 63 goals for and 18 against, Edmonton's 8 victories have come via 33 goals for but just 12 goals against. That clearly illustrates a difference in the way the teams get it done and perhaps points out a difference in the leagues they play in as well.”

It’s a good read – especially if you are like us and barely follow the WHL.

GAUTHIER

At ESPN Florida, Danick Guathier was named the Tampa Bay Lightning’s third star in their weekly Bolts Prospects Three Stars post.

“In eight playoff games now Gauthier has seven goals and three assists,” writes Chad Schnarr. “After Game 2 against the Drakkar the team was averaging just under nine goals per game. They scored five in both games 3 and 4. They are considered the favorite to win the QMJHL title and represent the league in the Memorial Cup in Shawinigan.”

TOP SCORERS

Zack Phillips is currently leading the league in playoff scoring with 23 points. Charlie Coyle is second with 21 and Stanislav Galiev is third with 19. Tomas Jurco and Jonathan Huberdeau are also in the top 10.

Coyle leads the circuit with 11 goals while Phillips leads the way in assists with 17.

Entering round three, Saint John is averaging 7.88 goals per game.

FIGHT

Here’s Grant West taking on Samuel Noreau from Wednesday’s game in Baie-Comeau.

That was the third West/Noreau tilt of the season according to HockeyFights.com.

BEAUREGARD

Steve Turcotte of the Shawinigan newspaper Le Nouvelliste has a great article on Alexandre Beauregard en francais.

Here’s a Beauregard quote translated through Google.

"I know them well, I think they have a team comparable to last year. They are pretty untouchable ... I just saw the Cataracts three times, I can compare the two clubs, and I think the Sea Dogs are more powerful. "

Chicoutimi is certainly giving Shawinigan a good run as the two enter Game 5 tonight at the Bionest Centre tied at 2-2. Beauregard has a goal and three assists in 10 playoff games this year which, believe it or not, already surpasses his point total from last year’s playoffs.

HUBERDEAU

Canoe.ca has an article about Jonathan Huberdeau en francais. He talks about this year’s Sea Dogs playoff run and all that good stuff. He also gives his prediction for the Devils/Panthers series.

DANCING

Someone uploaded this to YouTube. Yeah…