Tonight's game will be played during a worsening global pandemic; in front of a small yet close-to-allowed-capacity crowd; and it will be the first match of a nine-game round-robin series between the QMJHL's three New Brunswick clubs with the winner advancing to face the Charlottetown Islanders in a logistically challenging Maritimes Division final. But, hey, playoffs!
The Sea Dogs and Moncton Wildcats have had a back-and-forth season series, especially since the restart. Saint John won eight of the 13 meetings during this irregular season. The Wildcats will be missing several key regulars to start this unique playoff round.
Game time tonight at TD Station is 7 p.m.
TV/Radio/Webcast: Rogers TV (check your listings)/93 CFBC/QMJHL Live
Records: The Sea Dogs finished the regular season with a 15-14-3-1 record for a .515 points percentage (third Maritimes) while the Wildcats finished with a record of 11-17-2-1 for a .403 points percentage (fifth Maritimes).
Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 2-1 home loss to the Moncton Wildcats on Saturday. Josh Lawrence scored Saint John's only goal. Noah Patenaude made 29 stops in the loss. The Wildcats are coming off a 5-3 loss in Bathurst on Sunday. Maxim Barbashev, Tristan Sanchez and Mathis Cloutier all scored for Moncton. Dakota Lund-Cornish made 29 saves in the loss.
2020-21 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs were 8-5-0-0 against the Wildcats during the regular season while Moncton went 5-7-1-0 against Saint John.
Last meeting: This past Saturday at TD Station where the Wildcats defeated the Sea Dogs 2-1. Alexis Daniel and Jacob Hudson scored for Moncton. Josh Lawrence had Saint John's lone goal. Vincent Filion made 26 saves in the win. Noah Patenaude made 29 stops in the loss.
Ex-Sea Dogs on the Wildcats: Forward Connor Richard.
Wildcat to watch: Jacob Hudson ended the regular season on a five-game point streak. He recorded four goals and three assists during that stretch.
Random stat: Brady Burns (nine goals and eight assists) and Jeremie Poirier (three goals and 14 assists) each had 17 points in 13 games against the Wildcats this season.
Notes: Ryan Francis led Saint John in points during the regular season with 50 and assists with 34... Brady Burns had a team high 18 goals... Jacob Hudson led the Wildcats in points with 32 and goals with 15... Philippe Daoust led the Wildcats in assists with 22... Saint John was 8-8-1-0 at home... Moncton was 6-8-1-0 on the road... Nicholas Girouard has assists in four straight games... Hudson has points in 10 straight road games... the Sea Dogs have lost four straight home games... the Wildcats were without Anthony Hamel, Sam McKinney, Philippe Daoust, Vincent Labelle, Gabriel Bernier and Yoan Loshing all due to injuries on the weekend... Moncton's Owen Stammer has been handed a three-game suspension.
Out of town:
No games
Next game: The Sea Dogs take on the Titan in Bathurst on Thursday at 7 p.m.
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