Game Day 37: vs Oceanic

SAINT JOHN - For the first time since last season's stunning playoff series, the Saint John Sea Dogs take on the Rimouski Oceanic this afternoon.

The Oceanic eliminated the Sea Dogs from the first-round of last year's playoffs, winning the deciding Game 5 in overtime at TD Station. Rimouski were heavy underdogs against the Memorial Cup hosts.

This season, Rimouski sits second in the East Division, well behind the league-leading Quebec Remparts. This afternoon's contest will wrap up a three-game Maritime road trip for the club.

Game time this afternoon is 3 p.m.

TV/Radio/Stream: None/93 CFBC/CHL TV

2022-23 regular season records: The Sea Dogs are 13-21-1-1 for 28 points (sixth Maritimes/10th Eastern/18th QMJHL) while the Oceanic are 22-16-1-1 for 46 points (second East/third Eastern/seventh QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 6-4 home loss to the Halifax Mooseheads on Friday. Alexis Cournoyer, Reid Calder, Brady Burns and Nicolas Bilodeau scored for Saint John. Ventsislav Shingarov made 31 stops in the loss. The Oceanic are coming off a 5-1 loss in Moncton last night. Maxime Coursol scored Rimouski's lone goal. Patrik Hamrla made 24 stops in the loss.

2022-23 head-to-head: This is the first meeting of the season between the Sea Dogs and Oceanic.

2021-22 head-to-head: the Sea Dogs were 1-1-0-0 against the Oceanic in the regular season last year while Rimouski went 1-1-0-0 against Saint John. Rimouski won the first-round, best-of-five playoff series 3-2.

Last meeting: May 12 at TD Station where the Oceanic defeated the Sea Dogs 4-3 in overtime to win the first-round playoff series 3-2. William Dumoulin scored twice for Rimouski while Mathis Gauthier and Alexander Gaudio added singles. Ryan Francis, Cam MacDonald and Riley Bezeau scored for Saint John. Patrik Hamrla made 26 saves in the win. Thomas Couture and Nikolas Hurtubise took the loss in net.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Oceanic: None.

Oceanic to watch: William Dumoulin had three goals and an assist in the five-game playoff series against Saint John last season.

Random stat: Including tonight's contest, the Sea Dogs play five straight games against Quebec-based clubs. They won't play a Maritimes Division opponent until Jan. 20.

Notes: Brady Burns leads Saint John in scoring with 35 points and goals with 20... Nate Tivey has a team high 17 assists... William Dumoulin leads the Oceanic in points with 35 and goals with 17... Alexandre Blais leads the club in assists with 22... the Sea Dogs are 9-11-0-0 at home... the Oceanic are 9-11-1-0 on the road... Rimouski is 8-1-0-1 in their last 10 games... Jan Sprynar is second in rookie scoring with 28 points and leads all rookies in goals with 16... the Sea Dogs are 1-3-0-0 against East Division teams... the Oceanic are 5-2-0-0 against Maritimes Division clubs... Burns has assists in six straight games.

Out of town:

Charlottetown at Moncton - 4:00 PM AST 

Victoriaville at Chicoutimi - 4:00 PM EST 

Blainville-Boisbriand at Rouyn-Noranda - 4:00 PM EST 

Sherbrooke at Shawinigan - 4:00 PM EST

Next game: The Sea Dogs visit the Chicoutimi Sagueneens on Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m.