VIDEO: Imama Tossed For Boarding

SYDNEY, NS – Bokondji Imama’s night ended early on Tuesday.

Imama was given a five-minute boarding major and game misconduct for a hit on Tobie Paquette-Bisson in the second period of game four of the Cape Breton/Saint John series.

Here is the Imama hit on Bisson pic.twitter.com/VFZ1ue5YwS

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) April 12, 2016

Bisson was down on the ice for several minutes and was attended to by both team’s athletic therapists. He was eventually stretchered off.

According to Sea Dogs radio broadcaster Tim Roszell, the on-ice officials did not indicate a penalty call originally.

Imama is certainly no stranger to controversial plays/hits and it will be interesting to see how the league handles this one.

While the Cape Breton/Saint John season series hasn't been overly nasty, there were several suspensions. Recently, Nathan Noel was suspended for Monday’s game due to a check from behind. The Sea Dogs also sent a video of a Pierre-Luc Dubois hit from Monday to the league but no suspension was given out. 

Three Sea Dogs Make Final Rankings

NHL Central Scouting has ranked Cape Breton Screaming Eagles forward Pierre-Luc Dubois the No. 1 North American skater for this year’s draft.

NHL Central Scouting released their final rankings today. There were 25 QMJHL skaters on the list along with three goaltenders.

Dubois made the jump to No. 1 after being ranked seventh in the midterm listings. London’s Matthew Tkachuk, who was ranked first in the midterms, was second.

Three Saint John Sea Dogs made the list. Defenseman Luke Green was ranked 40^th, forward Nathan Noel 171^st and defenseman Oliver Felixson 189^th. Noel was passed over in last year’s NHL Draft. This is the first time Green and Felixson have been eligible.

As the Sea Dogs’ press release notes, prospects defenseman Marshall Rifai (123rd) and forward Jamie Armstrong (124th) were also ranked.

Auston Matthews, who is the top ranked European skater, is expected to be taken first overall. The NHL Draft takes place June 24-25 in Buffalo. 

PLAYOFF GAME DAY 4: at Cape Breton

The Saint John Sea Dogs look to take a commanding series lead tonight when they face the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles for game four of this second round series. Game time is 7 p.m.

TV/Radio/Webcast: None/96.1 NewSong FM/QMJHL Live

Series status: The Sea Dogs lead the best-of-seven second round series 2-1.

Game 1 – Cape Breton 4, Saint John 1
Game 2 – Cape Breton 3, Saint John 4 (OT)
Game 3 –Saint John 5, Cape Breton 2
Game 4 – Tuesday, April 12 at Cape Breton – 7 p.m.

Game 5 – Friday, April 15 at Saint John – 7 p.m.

Last game: The Sea Dogs picked up a huge 5-2 win at Centre 200 last night. Matthew Highmore scored twice while Spencer Smallman, Jordan King and Bokondji Imama also netted goals. Thomas Chabot registered four assists. Loik Leveille and Giovanni Fiore scored for Cape Breton. Marc-Antoine Turcotte made 20 saves in the win. Alexandre Belanger was pulled after allowing four goals on 18 shots. Daryl MacCallum made 11 saves in relief.

2015-16 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs were 6-3-0-0 against the Screaming Eagles in the regular season while Cape Breton went 3-5-0-1 against Saint John.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Screaming Eagles: Defenseman Olivier LeBlanc

Player to watch: After recording an impressive four assists last night, Thomas Chabot now leads all QMJHL defensemen in playoff scoring with two goals and eight helpers in eight matches.

Three Things to Know

1. The Sea Dogs were able to keep Evgeny Svechnikov, Maxim Lazarev, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Michael Joly all off the scoreboard last night, which is an impressive accomplishment.

2. With two assists last night, Sam Povorozniouk sits fifth in overall playoff scoring with eight goals and five helpers in eight games. Daniel Sprong has a league high 15 playoff points.

3. The Sea Dogs will get Nathan Noel back tonight. He missed last night's game due to a one-game suspension. 

GAME 3 RECAP: Sea Dogs Win 5-2

FINAL: Saint John 5, Cape Breton 2

By Kevin Chambers | SN Staff

SYDNEY, NS – After a few shaky games, the Saint John Sea Dogs proved why they are one of the top seeded teams in the QMJHL on Monday night in Sydney.

Despite a suspension to Nathan Noel, the Sea Dogs were able to put together a solid road effort and defeat the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 5-2 to take a 2-1 series lead. The win also regained home ice advantage for Saint John.

Matthew Highmore scored twice and added an assist while Jordan King, Spencer Smallman and Bokondji Imama also netted goals. Thomas Chabot registered four assists and Sam Povorozniouk had two. Marc-Antoine Turcotte made 20 saves in the win.

The Sea Dogs struggled in the final two games of the Bathurst series and did not have a good game one to this series. But Saturday’s overtime win coupled with this road victory brings some confidence back. Scoring five goals tonight without Noel in the lineup - along with Mathieu Joseph and Adam Marsh, of course - was impressive.

Cape Breton’s big guns – Pierre-Luc Dubois, Michael Joly, Evgeny Svechnikov and Maxim Lazarev – were all held pointless. Loik Leveille and Giovanni Fiore scored for the Screaming Eagles. Alexandre Belanger was pulled after allowing four goals on 18 shots. Daryl MacCallum made 11 saves in relief.

Noel Suspended For Tonight's Game

SYDNEY, NS – The Saint John Sea Dogs will be without one of their top forwards tonight in what is, up to this point, the biggest game of the season.

Nathan Noel has been suspended for tonight’s game against the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles for what the league calls a dangerous check from behind. The suspension came after a league revision.

This is presumably where the suspension came from.

Nathan Noel suspended for tonight's game because of, presumably, this hit. pic.twitter.com/Zcxyct2dhb

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) April 11, 2016

Noel was given a two-minute penalty on the play, which happened early in the first period. The Sea Dogs went on to win the game in overtime, with Noel setting up Joe Veleno’s extra time goal.

Saint John and Cape Breton have had an odd season series with both teams receiving suspensions after league reviews. Noel’s suspension continues the trend.

Noel has one goal and seven assists so far this post-season but only has one assist in this series so far. 

Game three of the best-of-seven series, which is tied 1-1, takes place tonight at 7 p.m. at Centre 200. The Sea Dogs will now be without two of their top four leading scorers from the regular season. 

PLAYOFF GAME DAY 3: at Cape Breton

After picking up a crucial 4-3 overtime victory in game two on Saturday night, the Saint John Sea Dogs look to keep the momentum going this evening when they take on the Screaming Eagles in Sydney. Game time for game three is 7 p.m.

TV/Radio/Webcast: None/96.1 NewSong FM/QMJHL Live

Series status: The best-of-seven second round series is tied 1-1.

Game 1 – Cape Breton 4, Saint John 1
Game 2 – Cape Breton 3, Saint John 4 (OT)
Game 3 – Monday, April 11 at Cape Breton – 7 p.m.
Game 4 – Tuesday, April 12 at Cape Breton – 7 p.m.

Game 5 – Friday, April 15 at Saint John – 7 p.m.

Last game: The Sea Dogs won game two of the series by score of 4-3. Sam Povorozniouk and Joe Veleno each scored twice for the Sea Dogs. Michael Joly, Yannik Bertrand and Pierre-Luc Dubois scored for Cape Breton. Marc-Antoine Turcotte made 26 saves in the win. Alexandre Belanger made 38 saves in the loss.

2015-16 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs were 6-3-0-0 against the Screaming Eagles in the regular season while Cape Breton went 3-5-0-1 against Saint John.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Screaming Eagles: Defenseman Olivier LeBlanc

Player to watch: Phelix Martineau, who had three goals and three assists in nine games against Saint John during the regular season, has picked up a helper in both games of this series.

Three Things to Know

1. Including the regular season, the Sea Dogs have won six games in overtime – two of which have come in the post-season. They’ve also lost six times in overtime – all of which came in the regular season.

2. Thanks to the East Coast Music Awards taking over Centre 200 later this week, this series is forced to feature three games in four days and four in five.

3. The Sea Dogs are 1-1 on the road this post-season. The Screaming Eagles are 2-1 at home.