Sea Dogs clinch playoff spot

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs are officially headed back to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs.

It's the first time since 2017 that the Sea Dogs will take part in the President Cup post-season. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, recording just 14 wins in 2017-18 and 13 last year.

It's official, WE'RE IN! #SeaDogs15

Your Sea Dogs are playoff bound! Packages are on sale now at the TD Station Box Office. 8 game and 16 game packages available. Dates, times and opponent are TBA. pic.twitter.com/Z6pqP4exI7

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) March 2, 2020

The Sea Dogs currently sit sixth in the QMJHL's Eastern Conference with 61 points, and if the playoffs started today they would face the third seeded Rimouski Oceanic. There isn't a whole lot of opportunity for movement in the standings with just seven games remaining in the regular season for the Dogs. The Charlottetown Islanders sit ahead of Saint John with 67 points while the Baie-Comeau Drakkar sit below them with 57 points.

The Sea Dogs and Islanders meet two more times this season - this Thursday and Friday at Eastlink Centre. Of Saint John's seven remaining games, six are against teams with above .500 records.

Nine of the 16 playoff spots in the league have been secured. Six of the teams that have clinched are in the Eastern Conference.