Saint John nearing playoff clinch

Bruno Girard/Chicoutimi Sagueneens

It's still not a guarantee, but the playoffs are very likely for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The top-16 teams in the overall Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League standings qualify for the playoffs. The Sea Dogs currently sit 15th with 47 points, which is 10 points more than the 17th-place Rimouski Oceanic (who have lost 18 straight games) and 17 points more than the last-place Baie-Comeau Drakkar (who have lost nine straight).

While it's still possible for the Sea Dogs to miss the playoffs, it is very unlikely.

Saint John has seven regular season games remaining. They're looking to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2023-24 season when they were swept by the Drummondville Voltigeurs.

The Sea Dogs have not won a playoff series since 2017 when they captured the QMJHL championship. Excluding the provincial tournament thing in 2021, Saint John has won just three playoff games during that span.

No matter who the Sea Dogs end up facing in this year's playoffs, they will be major underdogs. Here's what the playoff picture would look like if the season ended today.

Eastern Conference

1. Chicoutimi vs 8. Saint John

2. Moncton vs 7. Halifax

3. Newfoundland vs 6. Quebec

4. Charlottetown vs 5. Cape Breton

Western Conference

1. Drummondville vs 8. Gatineau

2. Blainville-Boisbriand vs 7. Victoriaville

3. Rouyn-Noranda vs 6. Val-d'Or

4. Shawinigan vs 5. Sherbrooke

Saint John is likely to remain the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, meaning they'll face either the Chicoutimi Sagueneens or Moncton Wildcats. 

The Sea Dogs, oddly enough, are 2-0 against the Sagueneens this season. Saint John beat Chicoutimi 6-5 at TD Station way back on Oct. 5 and 6-5 in overtime at Georges Vezina Centre on Dec. 11.

Against Moncton this season, the Sea Dogs are 1-6-0-0.

The Sea Dogs are back in action on Wednesday when they host the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada at 7 p.m.

Some Sunday stats

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - Everett Baldwin tied a Saint John Sea Dogs franchise record on Saturday.

Baldwin scored his 13th goal of the season in Saint John's 5-4 loss to the Charlottetown Islanders, tying the team record for most goals by a rookie defenseman in a single season.

Baldwin ties Jakub Zboril who posted 13 goals during the 2014-15 season.

In terms of points, Baldwin now has 36 on the season, tying him with Luke Green for the third most by a Sea Dogs rookie defenseman. Nicolas Bilodeau (43 points) and Radim Salda (41) still sit ahead of him.

The Sea Dogs have seven games remaining in the regular season. 

Baldwin has three goals and four assists over his past six games. Seven of his 13 goals have come since Jan. 4.

The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect is committed to Providence College for next season.