Game Day 49: at Shawinigan

SHAWINIGAN, Que. - The Saint John Sea Dogs will play one of the biggest game of their season tonight.

The Sea Dogs, who sit 17th overall in the QMJHL with 25 points, will face the Shawinigan Cataractes, who are 16th with 26 points, tonight at the Gervais Auto Centre. The top 16 teams will make the playoffs, making tonight's match a big one for both clubs.

Game time tonight is 8 p.m.

TV/Radio/Webcast: None/None/QMJHL Live

Records: The Sea Dogs are 11-34-2-1 for 25 points (17th QMJHL, ninth Eastern, fifth Maritimes) while the Cataractes are 11-33-1-3 for 26 points (16th QMJHL, eighth Western, fourth Central).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens on Saturday at Harbour Station. Maxim Cajkovic scored Saint John's lone goal. Zachary Bouthillier made 40 saves in the loss. The Cataractes are coming off a 3-2 loss in Rimouski on Tuesday night. Valentin Nussbaumer and Jeremy Martin scored for Shawinigan. Antoine Coulombe made 26 saves in the loss.

2018-19 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs are 1-0-0-0 against the Cataractes this season while Shawinigan is 0-0-0-1 against Saint John.

Last meeting: Jan. 9 at Harbour Station where the Sea Dogs edged the Cataractes 5-4 in a shootout. Maxim Cajkovic, Robbie Burt, Nicholas Deakin-Poot and Brady Burns all scored for Saint John. Valentin Nussbaumer, Mikael Robidoux, Charles Beaudoin and Jeremy Manseau had Shawinigan goals. Mikhail Denisov was pulled after allowing four goals on 19 shots. Zachary Bouthillier stopped all 23 shots he faced in relief. Antoine Coulombe made 25 saves in the loss.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Cataractes: None.

Cataracte to watch: Mavrik Bourque is eighth in QMJHL rookie scoring with 31 points.

Random stat: Maxim Cajkovic has goals in four straight games and goals in six of his past eight games.

Notes: Maxim Cajkovic leads Saint John in points with 34 and assists with 19... Cajkovic and Robbie Burt are tied for the team lead in goals with 15... Jan Drozg leads the Cataractes in points with 38 and assists with 25... Mavrik Bourque and Vincent Senez are tied for the Shawinigan lead in goals with 15... Saint John is 4-17-0-1 on the road... Shawinigan is 8-13-1-0 at home... the Cataractes have the worst penalty kill in the league with a rating of 69.8%... both teams have lost five straight games.

Out of town:
Victoriaville at Halifax - 7:00 PM AST

Next game: The Sea Dogs visit the Quebec Remparts tomorrow at 8 p.m.