2011-12 QMJHL playoff preview part two

QUEBEC CITY , P.Q. — The QMJHL playoff will be launched on Thursday March 22^nd with two series, the Gatineau Olympiques will travel to Blainville-Boisbriand facing the Armada. The other series will see Drummondville Voltigeurs visiting the Quebec Remparts. These two series been previewed, let’s have a look on the other ones beginning on Friday night.
 
Cape Breton Screaming Eagles vs. Saint John Sea Dogs:
 
Ending their regular season 16^th overall, Cape Breton (23-43-1-2 for 49 points) will face off against the defending Memorial Cup champion the Saint John Sea Dogs first overall (50-15-0-3 for 103 points).
 
Having won only 1 game in 8 meetings, you can guess it’s hard to find someone to give any chance to the Screaming Eagles (23-42-1-2 for 49 points) in this first round. Scoring 298 goals allowing only 180 over a schedule of 68 games, the team coach by Ron Choules will need everything they got playing almost perfect game, if its possible to get a chance in that series.
 
In goal Saint John get the edge with Mathieu Corbeil with a goaltending average of 2.38 and save percentage 0.911 in 48 games. Coming from the Blainville-Boisbriand William Racicot will certainly be designate to defend the Screaming Eagles cage in this series. Playing 24 games with the Armada before being traded to Cape Breton, the Greenfield Park Quebec native played only 9 games cumulating 6.02 goals against average and 0.829 save percentage.
 
Trying to contain offensive players like Danick Gauthier (47-39- 86 in 66 games), Zach Phillips (30-50-80 points in 60 games), Jonathan Huberdeau (30-42-72 points in 37 games) and Tomas Jurco (30-38-68 points in 48 games) won’t be an easy task.
 
In Cape Breton, Jonathan Brunelle with 85 points (30 goals) in 68 games is the best offensive player. The Boisbriand native is followed by teammates William Carrier 70 points (27 goals in 66 games) and Alexandre Lavoie coming from Chicoutimi in last trading deadline ending with 33 points in 30 games (15 goals).
 
Prediction: Saint John in five.
 
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (24-36-4-4 for 56 points) vs. Shawinigan Cataractes (45-16-3-4 for 97 points):
 
Already earning their place in the Memorial Cup as the host team, the Cataractes would certainly want to prove to anyone they can beat any team facing them to enter the big dance by the grand door.
 
Making great acquisitions at the trading deadline (three defensemen) Jonathan Narbonne, Morgan Ellis and Brandon Gormley (injured might miss all first round games), Shawinigan gave a great boost to their defensive unit.
 
With Gabriel Girard and Alex Dubeau ranked 2^nd and 3^rd best goaltenders in the league, Shawinigan can count on two great goaltenders. With veteran Girard between the pipes second best in the league with 2.45 goal against average in 36 games, Cataractes head coach seems confident the Varenne Quebec native, will do the job ending the regular season with 20 victories.
 
Offensively, with Anton Zlobin (76 points in 66 games, 40 goals), Michael Chaput (63 points in 57 games, 21 goals), Yannick Veilleux (58 points in 59 games, 27 goals) and Michael Bournival (56 points in 41 games, 30 goals), the Cataractes head coach is confident his team will be able to put the puck behind opponent netminder.
 
Right winger Sven Andrighetto (74 points in 62 games, 36 goals), defenseman Mathieu Brisbois (56 points in 68 games, 17 goals), right winger Dennis Kamaev (55 points in 67 games, 21 goals) and left winger Antoine Quevillon (41 points in 63 games, 15 goals) are the best offensive players on Huskies side.
 
Prediction: Shawinigan will prevail in 6.
 
Baie-Comeau Drakkar (29-34-1-4 for 63 points) vs. Victoriaville Tigres (44-18-1-5 for 94 points):
 
This series promise to be physical one, with only three games left to the regular season Steve Ahern decided to pull the trigger on his head coach firing Mario Pouliot, taking his place behind the bench in hope to light a fire under his team with playoff coming.
 
Having nothing to lose, Baie-Comeau expects to play physical game trying to disturb Victoriaville game plan. Winning 5 out of 7 meetings between the two, the Tigres coach Yanick Jean hope his team will stay discipline and will follow the game plan to the T.
 
Led offensively by the best scoring leader in the league in Yanni Gourde (124 points in 68 games, 38 goals), the St-Narcisse native is follow by Brandon Hynes (86 points in 61 games, 42 goals), Philippe Halley (79 points in 66 games, 43 goals) and Philippe Maillet (76 points in 62 games, 33 goals).  
 
Biginning his season with Cape Breton, right winger David Rose is the best offensive player on Drakkar side ending the year with 62 points in 67 games playing 28 games with Baie-Comeau 24 points and 7 goals. Carl Gelinas (61 points in 63 games, 25 goals), Tomas Filippi (53 points in 60 games, 19 goals) and Raphael Bussierres (44 points in 66 games, 21 goals) followed the former Screaming Eagles forward.
 
In goal it will be interesting to see who will get the nod as starting goaltenders? Will Ahern go with veteran Jimmy Appleby ( 3.85 G.A.G. 0.866 save percentage) or young Philippe Cadorette ( 3.05 G.A.G. 0.898 save percentage)?
 
Prediction: At the end, Victoriaville should prevail in 5.
 
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com