QUEBEC CITYP.Q.— The QMJHL semifinal series between the Rimouski Oceanics and the Drummondville Voltigeur will see the team with the best overall record during the regular season in Drummondville, facing the best team of the second half of regular season, Rimouski. Fans from both cities will certainly enjoy the confrontation and will certainly get exciting hockey. The teams began the playoffs with a 17 game consecutive win streak that ended the regular season. Rimouski is playing with real confidence, and can get into the Memorial Cup, not only as the host team, but as the QMJHL champion if they win their last two series. Rimouski Oceanics: When you look the Oceanics and try to analyze the team, you find good goaltenders, a very good defense, and balanced offense. Let’s start with the goaltender. In net, Rimouski put their confidence in Maxime Gougeon who posted a record of eight wins, one loss, a 1.78 goaltending average and a save percentage of .930. You can’t say that he didn’t do the job until now. It promises to be an interesting match up between the two opposing netminders, whether it will be Marco Cousineau or Antoine Tardif on the other side of the ice. On defense, Rimouski saw Marc-Andre Bourdon arrive from Rouyn-Norenda, giving the Oceanic the kind of defenseman any team looks for in the playoffs. With Bourdon, Sebastien Piche, and Emmanuel Boudreau, Rimouski can count on the big three on defense. It will be interesting to see the confrontation against one of, if not the best offensive in the QMJHL in Drummondville. Bourdon and Piche plays on the first power play unit. Boudreau plays on the second unit. The Voltigeur wouldn’t like to give the Oceanics too many chances to play with a man advantage, because it could be costly in the end. Offensively, Rimouski possess a balanced offensive with guys like Keven Veilleux (5g-10a), Philippe Cornet (3g-10a), defenseman Marc-Andre Bourdon (1g-10a), Patrice Cormier (4g-3a), Jordan Caron (3g-4a) and Olivier Fortier (3g-4a). If Drummondville is one of the best in the QMJHL, the Rimouski offense aren’t too far behind. Drummondville Voltigeur: During the regular season, both teams played each other three times. Drummondville won two games and loss once in a shootout. The offensive leaders for the Voltigeurs are Mike Hoffman (4g-1a), Yannick Riendeau (3g-2a), and defenseman Patrick Prokop (2g-2a). In the playoffs, Yannick Riendeau (14g-14a), Danny Masse (10g-15a), Christopher DiDominico (3-g-22a) and Mike Hoffman (13g-7a) have led Drummondville in offense in only eight playoff games. The task ahead of Clement Jodoin’s team will be to try and contain Drummondville. The series will pit the Voltigeur offense against the Oceanic’s defense. It will be a great challenge in perspective. Drummondville has the best power play (42.7 percent) scoring 60 goals in eight games, an average of 7.5 goals per game. Defensively: Dmitry Kulikov, winner of three trophies (the Emile Bouchard, RDS Cup, and Michael Bossy) is the defensive leader for the Voltigeur. He’s played almost 30 minutes on the ice per game. He is probably the best defensive prospect from the QMJHL eligible for the upcoming NHL entry Draft. In goal, Drummonville the head coach will alternate both goaltenders. Marco Cousineau played 6 games, cumulating a record of 5-0 with a 1.99 GAA with a save percentage of.904. For his part, Antoine Tardif has played in only 3 games with a record of 3-0 with a 2.31 GAA and a save percentage of .903. Collectively they have a 2.09 GAA and a save percentage of .903. Prediction: Drummondville in 7. Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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