QUEBEC CITY P.Q. — Now that the curtain is fallen on the QMJHL 2009-10 regular season, place to the often call by majority of experts, the true season, the time of year every junior fans around like the most, the playoff time.
Before talking about the playoff matchups in first round, let’s have a look on how the playoff rule works in the QMJHL.
As written in the 2009-10 rule book.
4.14.1 Playoff standings
The playoff standings: The sixteen teams eligible for playoff will be ranked in accordance with one of the following principles. The first four positions will be awarded in the order of points accumulated during season at the top of their division;
Amongst the teams ending last in their division, the two teams having accumulated the least numbers of points in the standing will be eliminated while the other two teams will be ranked fifteen and sixteen according to the number of points accumulated.
Positions five through fourteen are awarded to the remaining teams in order of the number of points accumulated during the regular season. Should the number of points accumulated be tied, the position is awarded by using article 4.13.
Such standing, called “playoff standings”, are used to determine opponent in each of the series as well as the team who will get ice advantage.
4.14.2 Series format
The playoffs consist of best of seven series
First round
In first round of sixteen teams, series are played between teams in same division; the team in first place played the fourth and the team in second place playing the third. Should it occur that in a given division, only three teams are eligible for playoff, the fourth position will be occupied by the team holding the fifth place in a six teams division. Should that situation occur in two divisions where there are only three eligible teams, fourth place in each of these divisions will be taken by the team ending fifth and sixth in the six division teams with the team in sixth place being placed against the team having accumulated the greatest number of points in the playoff standings in either division.
Quarter-Final
Quarter-final series are played between the winners of the sixteen first round series where first plays eight, second plays seven, third plays sixth and fourth plays fifth.
Semi-final
Semi-final series are played by opposing the four winning teams of the quarter-final, first playing fourth, second playing third.
President Cup final
The Final is played between the winners of the semi-final.
Knowing the rules here is what QMJHL fans will come to see in QMJHL first round matchup.
Series A will see in the Atlantic Division the Prince Edwards Island (35-25-2-6 ending fourth) with 78 points facing the Saint John Sea Dogs (53-12-1-2) ending first in the Atlantic and the overall standing with 109 points). First two games will be Friday March 19, second game on Saturday March 20. Games number three and four will be on Tuesday March 23 and Wednesday March 24. Game five will be on Friday March 26, game six on Sunday March 28 and if game seven is necessary it will be on Tuesday March 30.
Series B will see the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (41-22-2-3) ending third in the Atlantic Division with 87 points facing the Moncton Wildcats (48-14-2-4) ending second with 102. First two games will be on Friday March 19, second game on Saturday March 20. Game number three and four will be on Tuesday March 23 and Wednesday March 24. Game five will be on Friday March 26, game six on Sunday March 28 and if necessary game seven will be on Tuesday March 30.
Series C will see the Lewiston MAINEiacs (23-42-0-3) ending fourth in the Telus Central Division with 49 points facing the Drummondville Voltigeurs (51-15-0-2) ending in first with 104 points. First two games in this series will be on Friday March 19, the second game on Saturday March 20. Game number three and four will be on Tuesday March 23 and Wednesday March 24. Game five will be on Friday March 26. Game six will be on Sunday March 28 and if game seven is require it will be on Tuesday March 30.
Series D will see the Shawinigan Cataractes (31-29-3-5) ending third in Telus Central Division with 70 points facing the Victoriaville Tigres (46-19-1-2) ending second with 95 points. First two games will be on Friday March 19, second game on Saturday March 20. Game number three and four will be on Friday March 23 and Saturday March 24. Game five will be on Friday March 26, game six on Sunday March 28 and Game seven if necessary on Tuesday March 30.
Series E will see the Acadie-Bathurst Titan (25-37-3-3) ended fifth in the Atlantic Division with 56 points (better number of points than Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the Telus East) facing the Quebec Remparts (41-20-3-4) ending first in the Telus East Division with 89 points. First two games will be play on Thursday March 18 (due to the unavailability of the arena) and Friday March 19. Game three and four will be on Tuesday March 23 and Wednesday March 24. Game five will be on Friday March 26, Game six on Sunday March 26. Game seven if necessary will be on Tuesday March 30.
Series F will see the Chicoutimi Sagueneens (26-33-4-5) ended third in Telus East Division with 61 points facing the Rimouski Oceanic (34-27-5-2) ending second with 75 points. First two games will be on Friday March 19 and Saturday March 20. Game number three and four will be on Tuesday March 23 and Wednesday March 24. Game five will be on Friday March 26. Game number six will be on Sunday March 28 and if game seven is necessary it will be on Tuesday March 30.
Series G will see the Val-d’Or Foreur (22-38-6-2) ending fourth in Telus Western Division with 52 points facing the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (41-21-2-4) ending first in the Telus Western division with 88 points. First two games in that series will be play on Friday March 19 and Saturday March 20. Games three and four will be on Tuesday March 23 and Wednesday March 24. Game five will be on Friday March 26, Game six on Sunday March 28 and if game seven is necessary it will be on Tuesday March 30.
Series H will see the Gatineau Olympiques (30-33-1-4) ended third in the Telus Western Division with 65 points facing the Montreal Junior (31-30-2-5) ending second with 69 points. First two games will be on Friday March 19 and Saturday March 20. Game three and four will be on Tuesday March 23 and Wednesday March 24. Game five will be on Friday March 26, game six will be on Sunday March 28 and if game seven is necessary it will be on Tuesday March 30.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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