The Saint John Sea Dogs will host the Rimouski Oceanic in a winner-take-all Game 5 tonight at 7 p.m. The Oceanic forced a final game with a 1-0 win on Tuesday in Rimouski, evening the best-of-five series up at 2-2.
The game plan for Saint John seems fairly simple: they need to find a way to score. Oceanic netminder Patrik Hamrla had a performance for the ages on Tuesday, stopping all 40 shots he faced. Saint John's offense hasn't been firing on all cylinders in this series, averaging 2.50 goals per game compared to 4.54 in the regular season.
After a shaky first period Tuesday, the Sea Dogs controlled much of the play and allowed just 14 shots. Hamrla will need to have another spectacular performance if tonight's game plays out the same way.
The pressure is certainly on the Sea Dogs tonight. An Oceanic series win would be a major upset and would force the Sea Dogs to have a lengthy layoff while they wait to host the Memorial Cup in late June.
If the Sea Dogs win, they'll move on to face the Charlottetown Islanders in the second round. If the Oceanic win, they'll face the Quebec Remparts.
TV/Radio/Webcast: None/93 CFBC/CHL TV
Out of town:
Capacity/Proof of Vaccination/Masks: 100%/None/Not mandatory
Series status: The best-of-five first round series is tied 2-2.
Series schedule/results:
Series status: The best-of-five first round series is tied 2-2.
Series schedule/results:
Game 1 - May 5 Rimouski 3, Saint John 1
Game 2 - May 6 Rimouski 2, Saint John 4
Game 3 - May 9 Saint John 5, Rimouski 2
Game 4 - May 10 Saint John 0, Rimouski 1
Game 5 - May 12 Rimouski at Saint John 7 p.m.
Playoff records: The Sea Dogs are 2-2-0 this post-season while the Oceanic are 2-2-0.
Game 2 - May 6 Rimouski 2, Saint John 4
Game 3 - May 9 Saint John 5, Rimouski 2
Game 4 - May 10 Saint John 0, Rimouski 1
Game 5 - May 12 Rimouski at Saint John 7 p.m.
Playoff records: The Sea Dogs are 2-2-0 this post-season while the Oceanic are 2-2-0.
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: Patrik Hamrla will no doubt get the start in goal tonight. The Carolina Hurricanes prospect has stopped all 49 shots he's faced in 72:15 of action in this series.
Random stat: The Sea Dogs have not lost back-to-back games since dropping three straight between Feb. 20-26.
Notes: Several Sea Dogs are tied for the team lead in playoff scoring with three points each... Raivis Ansons, Philippe Daoust, William Dufour and Connor Trenholm each have a team high two goals... Jeremie Poirier has a team high three assists... several Oceanic are tied for the team lead in playoff scoring with three points each... Louis Robin has a team high two goals... Alexander Gaudio and Ludovic Soucy each have a team high three assists... the Oceanic are 0/15 on the power play in the series... Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie told the Telegraph-Journal that he expects Ryan Francis to return to the lineup after missing Game 4 with an illness... Rimouski's Alexandre Lefebvre is eligible to return from the two-game suspension he was given for a knee on Jeremie Poirier in Game 2.
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: Patrik Hamrla will no doubt get the start in goal tonight. The Carolina Hurricanes prospect has stopped all 49 shots he's faced in 72:15 of action in this series.
Random stat: The Sea Dogs have not lost back-to-back games since dropping three straight between Feb. 20-26.
Notes: Several Sea Dogs are tied for the team lead in playoff scoring with three points each... Raivis Ansons, Philippe Daoust, William Dufour and Connor Trenholm each have a team high two goals... Jeremie Poirier has a team high three assists... several Oceanic are tied for the team lead in playoff scoring with three points each... Louis Robin has a team high two goals... Alexander Gaudio and Ludovic Soucy each have a team high three assists... the Oceanic are 0/15 on the power play in the series... Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie told the Telegraph-Journal that he expects Ryan Francis to return to the lineup after missing Game 4 with an illness... Rimouski's Alexandre Lefebvre is eligible to return from the two-game suspension he was given for a knee on Jeremie Poirier in Game 2.
Out of town:
No other games.
Next game: If the Sea Dogs win, they'll open their second round series with the Charlottetown Islanders on Sunday afternoon at Eastlink Centre. If the Sea Dogs lose, they'll have plenty of time to prepare for the opening game of the Memorial Cup on June 20.
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