Recap: Sea Dogs lose 4-1

FINAL: Cape Breton 4, Saint John 1

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs' playoff hopes are over.

The Sea Dogs were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Friday, falling 4-1 to the Cape Breton Eagles at TD Station. The team will play its final game of the season – also against the Eagles – on Saturday afternoon on home ice.

It's the first time since the 2018-19 season that the Sea Dogs have missed the playoffs. They'll finish 17th overall in the 18-team QMJHL, joining the last-place Victoriaville Tigres outside the playoff picture.

The Sea Dogs entered the weekend three points back of the Gatineau Olympiques for the final playoff spot. With one game to play, there is no way for Saint John to catch Gatineau.

Saint John once again struggled to create scoring chances in Friday's loss but really turned it on in the third period. You can't say the Sea Dogs mailed this game in even when behind, which was good to see.

The Sea Dogs entered the game having been shutout in each of their past two games and averaging a league worst 2.39 goals per game. Matthew Krayer scored the team's lone goal, which came with 2:20 to play in the third period and Saint John trailing 4-0.

Luke Patterson, Brayden Schmitt, Alexis Toussaint and Cam Squires scored for Cape Breton. Alexis Cournoyer made 32 saves in the win.

Justin Robinson made 38 stops in the loss.

LINEUP

Rozzi - Groulx - Yared

Morin - Dubé - Cross

Peddle - M. Krayer - Wagner

Calder - Beaulieu

Tivey - Duhamel

Bilodeau - Mann

Lumsden - Amyot

MacLean

Robinson

Young

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without defensemen Julien Bonnet (healthy) along with forwards Egan Beveridge (injury), Dylan Krayer (injury), Darien Reynolds (injury) and Jonah Leard (healthy).

NOTES: Forwards Mitchell Wagner and Dylan Rozzi both returned to the Sea Dogs lineup, giving Saint John the ability to dress 12 natural forwards for the first time in four games. The Sea Dosg opted to go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen with affiliate forward Jonah Leard from the MHL's Grand Falls Rapids being scratched after warmup... goaltender Justin Robinson made his first start since Feb. 15... the Eagles scored 4:33 into the second period but the puck was clearly put in with a high stick... Brayden Schmitt's second period goal was Cape Breton's 10th shorthanded goal of the season, the fourth most in the QMJHL... the Sea Dogs scored 6:41 into the second period but the goal was called back due to the whistle going and the puck being dead... the Eagles are now 5-0-1-1 against Saint John this season... faceoffs were 37-28 Saint John... Mitchell Wagner had six shots... attendance was 4,192, the second largest home crowd of the season.

One of the largest crowds of the season here tonight. pic.twitter.com/IcuSK0QBcV

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) March 21, 2025

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs and Eagles meet again tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. at TD Station.