QMJHL Playoff Preview – Part 2

QUEBEC CITY . P.Q. — Today, we continue our preview of the upcoming QMJHL playoffs. Below is a preview of the Telus Eastern Division playoffs and the Atlantic Division playoffs. Each series will be a best-of-seven.
 
Let’s have a look on first round playoff match-ups in each division.
 
Telus Eastern Division
 
The Quebec Remparts will entertain Baie-Comeau Drakkar in this first round in the QMJL playoffs, while the Rimouski Oceanics face the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. Even if at first glance Quebec looks to be the favorite against Baie-Comeau, but don’t be surprise if fans in both cities get for their money’s worth here. The rivalry might push a team too far then what is expected from them. In the other matchup, again, Rimouski should get the best of Chicoutimi, but this might be a harder series then most people think.
 
Quebec Remparts: A lot was expected from Patrick Roy’s team during the regular seasons. Quebec ended the season losing it’s last two games against Rimouski and Victorialle. Quebec ended   the season in third place overall. Roy didn’t like the way his team played entering the playoff series against Baie-Comeau.
 
By no means will it be a walk in the park for Quebec. They will have to work hard and never take anything for granted. In the playoffs, more so than in the regular season, team works means more than individual statistics, so the players will have to pay the price if they want to win.
 
Players to watch: Mikhail Stefanovich (49g-27a-76pts), Dmitry Kugryshev (34g-40a-74pts), Benjamin Breault (34g-38a-72pts) are the teams three best scoring leaders. On defense Guillaume Monast (5g-38a-43pts), Alexandre Neron (6g-33a-39pts), Kevin Marshall (9g-29a-38pts) are the three most offensive defensemen, but don’t forget Samuel Groulx and Mikael Tam who might play a key role and help on the defensive side of the game.
 
Baie Comeau Drakkar: Here is another team that has nothing to lose. Some people might think this series will be easier to win for Quebec, and that it might be in the reality. In order to have a chance to win the series, Eric Dubois’s team will have to count on more then their first line for offense.
 
Payers to watch: Felix Petit (25g-65a-90pts), Guillaume Goulet (45g-24a-69pts), Gabriel Bourque (22g-39-61pts). On defense players like Pierre-Luc Lessard (10g-42a-52pts), Nicolas Siguin (2g-15a-17pts) and Antoine Letourneau (2g-7a-9pts) represent the potential offensive from the Drakkar blueline.
 
Prediction: Quebec will win in six games
 
Rimouski Oceanics: Even if they already have a place in the Memorial Cup tournament as the host team, the Oceanics want to certainly end the playoffs as the QMJHL champion, and their first task is to eliminate Chicoutimi. Rimouski went through lots of adversity during the regular season having had to deal with some important injuries.
 
Fortunately for them, all of their injured players came back. At one stretch during the season the team had 17 consecutive wins. It was a great boost of confidence for the team just in time before the playoff started.
 
Players to watch: Philippe Cornet (29g-48a-77pts), Jordan Caron (36g-31a-67pts), and Patrice Cormier (23g-28a-51pts) are the most dangerous offensive forwards. On defense Sebastien Piche (23g-49a-72pts), Marc-Andre Bourdon (18g-42a-60pts) and Emmanuel Boudreau (10g-21a-31pts) represent Rimouski offense from the defensive unit.
 
Chicoutimi Sagueneens: For Richard Martel, this season was a very tough one when you know just how much Martel wants to win, especially since he knows that he has very young team. He also had to deal with an injury to his most experienced defenseman in Mathieu Bolduc before letting him go at the QMJHL trading deadline. Just to get into the playoffs with this team is a great accomplishment and it will be a great experience heading into next season for the younger players on the team.
 
Players to watch: Mathieu Tousignant (29g-48a-77pts), Jacob Lagace (32g-37a-69pts), Nicolas Deschamps (24g-41a-65pts) are the most offensive forwards. On defense, Drew Paris (20g-37a-67pts), Dominic Jalbert (14g-30a-44pts) and Sebastien Rioux (12g-28a-40pts) are the offensive defensemen for the Sagueneens.
 
Prediction: Rimouski in five.
 
Atlantic Division
 
Moncton Wildcats face off against Prince Edward Island Rocket while the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles go up against the Saint John Sea Dogs. Moncton and Cape Breton represent the cream of the crop in the Atlantic Division. Unfortunately fans in the east and western region don’t see them either team that often during the regular season.
 
Moncton Wildcats: Moncton ended the season in first place in the Atlantic Division with 102 points. The team scored 236 goals and allowed only 149. Being the second best offensive team in their division it will be interesting to see what or how PEI head coach Guy Chouinard’s strategy is in order to give his team a chance against the Wildcats.
 
Players to watch: Matt Eagles (29g-36a-65pts), Tomy Joly (33g-27a-60pts), Scott Brannon (34g-20a-64pts) are the three best offensive forwards. On Defense, Mark Barberio (15g-30a-65pts), David Savard (9g-35a-44pts) and Simon Jodoin (10g-23a-33pts) provide offensive from the Wildcats defensemen.
 
Prince Edward Island Rocket: PEI scored 229 goals during the season. It will be interesting to see how PEI faces the challenge. Moncton is a solid need and will be tough to find a way to beat them. PEI goalkeeper Bobby Nadeau will see lots of pucks in the series. One thing is for sure, if the Rocket has any tiny chance in the series, Nadeau will play a major role in the game.
 
Players to watch: Benjamin Casavant (31g-41a-80pts), Chris Doyle (30g-42a-72pts) and Joel Champagne (24g-37a-61pts) will have to continue their production on a regular bases in the series if the Rocket hopes to win games. On defense, Jordan Southorn (6g-35a-61pts), Jason Legault (59gp-12g-26a-38pts) and Jean-Philippe Mathieu (2g-25a-27pts) are best Rocket defensemen offensively.
 
Prediction: Moncton in six.
 
Cape Breton Screaming Eagles: The Eagels are the best offensive team from the Atlantic Division. They scored 30 more goals than their first round opponent Saint John. Goaltender   Oliver Roy is one of the best netminders in the Q according to the Central Scouting Bureau and plays when under pressure.
 
Players to watch: Robert Slaney (36g-45a-81pts), Chris Culligan (14g-55a-69pts) and Joey Haddad (30g-25a-55pts) represent the teams best offensive forwards. On defense Jan Piskacek (5g-34a-39pts), Michael Ward (7g-27a-34pts) and Francis Meilleur (7g-26a-33pts) are the teams best offensive defensemen.
 
Saint John Sea Dogs: Facing an opponent that already has the best offensive in the division will be a great challenge for Saint John’s defensive trio of: Simon Despres, Yann Sauve and David Stich. Trying to be offensive defensemen and play solid defense will represent a challenge for the big three.
 
For goaltender Robert Mayer, he will need to be prepare to face lots of shots and he can’t be just average he is to give the Sea Dogs a chance to win the series. All players will have to give. Will they be able to do it? Only time will tell, but no team begins a playoff series thinking they don’t have a chance.
 
Players to Watch: Michael Kirkpatrick (34g-30a-64pts), Ryan Sparling (20g-31a-61pts) and Oliver Ouellet (21g-27a-48pts) represent the teams best offensive forwards. On defense Simon Despres (2g-30a-32pts), Yann Sauve (5g-25a-30pts) and David Stich (10g-17a-27pts) are the Sea Dogs best offensive defensemen.
 
Prediction: Cape Breton in six.
 
Contact the author at serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com