Eagles among teams picked to advance
The big story from the first round of the QMJHL playoffs was the elimination of the Halifax Mooseheads and Moncton Wildcats.
The Mooseheads lost in four straight to the Bathurst Titan and the Wildcats followed suit against the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. The sweep in Moncton cost head coach Dan Lacroix his job and there is ongoing soul-searching in Halifax.
There's no denying the shock in those two markets but it's also true the Sagueneens and Titan are performing at a peak level at the moment. Both teams played flawless hockey in the opening round and should feel pretty inspired going into the second round.
Here's a look at the four upcoming series from across the league, with predictions:
CAPE BRETON VS. CHICOUTIMI
As mentioned, the Sagueneens are at the top of their game and have won 24 of their
past 28 games going back to the regular season. The rapid maturation of their exceptionally stacked young core is they key to their success.
The Sagueneens have three 2022 first-round picks and four more from the 2023 draft in their lineup and all of those players are playing outstanding hockey, despite only being 16 and 17 years old. With a core of blue-chip talent like that, it's scary to think how
good this team will be next year and the year after.
But that's a story for another day. What matters right now is the Sagueneens are playing free and easy with nothing to lose heading into the series against Cape Breton.
But here's the crazy thing – the Eagles are even hotter than the Sags. They won their final nine games of the regular season and eliminated the Rimouski
Oceanic in five games in the opening round. And like the Sagueneens, they have players blossoming up and down their lineup.
Goalie Nicolas Ruccia is playing the best hockey of his career, Cam Squires leads the league in playoff scoring with 11 points in five games and heart and soul forward Jacob Newcombe is back in top form after overcoming a firsthalf battle with cancer.
Just about everyone in Cape Breton is contributing something meaningful and the fans in Sydney are jumping on board for the ride. Attendance spiked dramatically in the playoffs and it's an even hotter ticket now that the Eagles are into the second round. That home-ice advantage, plus an edge in experience, might just be enough to give the Eagles the nod in what should be an exciting and close best-ofseven.
Prediction: Cape Breton in seven
BAIE-COMEAU VS. BATHURST
Bathurst's outstanding team defence, hustle and patience on offence got them past Halifax and that will need to be the Titan's bread and butter again in this series. But as impressive as it was to see the upset the fourth-overall Mooseheads, the Drakkar are another beast altogether.
Unlike the Mooseheads who were missing two of their top players -Jordan Dumais and Jake Furlong - the Drakkar are healthy and deep at every position. They have too many good players to list and finished first overall with a 53-12-2-1 record.
After winning their firstround series in a sweep, the Drakkar have now only lost 12 of 72 games in regulation time this year. And the Henryleonard Centre is an incredibly difficult environment for visiting teams. The Drakkar have won 30 of 38 games on home ice this year.
But the Titan only lost 4-2 in their one game in Baiecomeau during the regular season and actually beat the Drakkar in Bathurst. If the Titan can frustrate the Drakkar like they did with the Mooseheads and steal a game or two in Baie-comeau, they could give them a scare.
Prediction: Baie-comeau in six
ROUYN-NORANDA VS. VICTORIAVILLE
The Huskies are the slight favourite but it’s imperative that they have a strong start to the series to establish that role to themselves. Ownership in Rouyn-noranda changed coaches just two months ago because of a troubling stretch of mediocre play so the pressure is on this group to deliver.
The Huskies responded well
to the coaching change and have only lost three games since then. That’s an impressive 19-3 overall record since Feb. 7 but two of those losses happened to be against Victoriaville.
The Tigres finished in fifth place overall, just nine points behind the third overall Huskies. It’s rare to see two contenders meet this early in the playoffs but this is a true meeting of heavyweights.
There are outstanding players across the board on both teams and there will be no easy games, especially in the tight quarters of the Iamgold Centre in Rouyn-noranda.
Prediction: Rouynnoranda in seven
DRUMMONDVILLE VS. SHERBROOKE
Full marks to the Phoenix for winning a round a year after going all in to win it all. Sherbrooke is entering a rebuild and there are still some good pieces in the lineup but Drummondville is loaded.
The Voltigeurs made some major mid-season trades and won their final seven games of the regular season to finish second overall with a 48-14-5-1 record. About the only thing going against them right now is the absence of star defenceman Maveric Lamoureux to a season-ending injury. Elite scorer Alexis Gendron also missed the opening round but is expected back soon.
But even without two two players, the Voltigeurs are just too powerful for the Phoenix.
Prediction: Drummondville in four