Game Day: Round 1, Game 1 vs Oceanic

SAINT JOHN - On this day 10 years ago, the Saint John Sea Dogs were heading into Game 2 of the President Cup final after a 3-2 double overtime win the night before.

The Sea Dogs' opponent 10 years ago? The Rimouski Oceanic, the same franchise that the Sea Dogs will face tonight in Game 1 of the 2022 President Cup playoffs opening round.

It's sure to be an unusual playoff with the first three rounds being best-of-five series. But it's nice to have "real" playoff hockey back after last year's provincial tournament thing.

The Sea Dogs, who ended the regular season on a 15-game winning streak, are the heavy favourites against the Oceanic. Saint John is an older, more experienced team with a lot more star power and depth - but they also have more pressure on them to perform than any other team. They Sea Dogs have clearly handled that pressure well down the stretch, now we'll see how they perform when the games have much more meaning.

Game time tonight at TD Station is 7 p.m.

TV/Radio/Webcast: None/93 CFBC/CHL TV

Capacity/Proof of Vaccination/Masks: 100%/None/Not mandatory

Series status: This is the first game of the first round, best-of-five series.

Series schedule/results:

Game 1 - May 5 Rimouski at Saint John 7 p.m.

Game 2 - May 6 Rimouski at Saint John 7 p.m.

Game 3 - May 9 Saint John at Rimouski 8:30 p.m.

Game 4 - May 10 Saint John at Rimouski 8:30 p.m.*

Game 5 - May 12 Rimouski at Saint John 7 p.m.*

*If necessary

Playoff records: This is the first game of the post-season for both clubs.

Regular season records: The Sea Dogs finished 47-17-1-3 for 98 points (second Maritimes/third Eastern/third QMJHL) while the Oceanic finished 33-26-5-4 for 75 points (second East/sixth Eastern/ninth QMJHL).

2021-22 regular season head-to-head: The Sea Dogs were 1-1-0-0 against the Oceanic in the regular season while Rimouski went 1-1-0-0 against Saint John.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Oceanic: Forward Alex Drover.

Oceanic to watch: Xavier Cormier has points in 13 straight games overall and eight straight road games.

Random stat: The Oceanic averaged just 7.96 penalty minutes per game in the regular season, the lowest in the league.

Notes: William Dufour led Saint John in regular season scoring with 116 points and goals with 56... Josh Lawrence had a team high 70 assists... Xavier Cormier led Rimouski in points (68), goals (29) and assists (39)... the Sea Dogs were 23-9-0-2 at home... the Oceanic were 14-14-3-3 on the road... the Sea Dogs had the second best power play in the regular season with a rating of 29%... Saint John averaged 4.54 goals per game in the regular season, the most in the league... the Oceanic averaged 25.91 shots against per game, the third fewest in the QMJHL... Dufour has goals in four straight games... the Sea Dogs have won six straight home games.

Out of town:

Halifax at Acadie-Bathurst - 7:00 PM ADT

Moncton at Charlottetown - 7:00 PM ADT

Blainville-Boisbriand at Drummondville - 7:00 PM EDT

Val-d'Or at Gatineau - 7:00 PM EDT

Chicoutimi at Québec - 7:00 PM EDT

Rouyn-Noranda at Shawinigan - 7:00 PM EDT

Baie-Comeau at Sherbrooke - 7:00 PM EDT

Next game: Game 2 of this series takes place Friday night at 7 p.m. at TD Station.