Three things to start with before I get too far along with this post.
Firstly, I was hoping to do a season synopsis for the Commandos first. However, I've been taking my time putting that together. There are a few aspects of that team that I would like to discuss and quite frankly, I'm still thinking of ways to put it all together. As for the Cats, I basically had the framework of this post thought out in about 20 minutes. That's not a good thing.
Secondly, congratulations to the Victoriaville Tigres on a well deserved playoff series win. Even though it wasn't the result most people in Moncton - myself included - desired, I do take some sort of strange personal victory out of my pre-series comments that Yannick Jean and Brandon Whitney could surprise a few people. These two individuals - as well as the team they are affiliated with - are winners. Even when Moncton did make it tough on the Tigres (which, incidentally, did not occur nearly enough) they found a way to battle through.
Thirdly, this post might very well rub alot of important people the wrong way (assuming anyoneofimportance reads this little amateur hour disguised as witty banter). To them I apologize and can only say that it's how I saw things. I'm not the only one. And I sincerely hope for better days ahead.
Now that that's over with, let's do some breaking down...
If you think I'm upset over what happened tonight, you're more wrong than right. I don't like the end result of this season. However, I didn't like alot of other results that came out of this team as well. This was a hard team to watch some nights. They were an even harder group to get behind. You always hope that at some point, the teams you follow will put it all together in spite of whatever deficiencies they possess. There have been a number of seasons in which the Cats wrapped up the season and I was sorry to see them go. Those teams gave me reason to feel that way. I can't say the same for this year's edition.
When Philippe Maillet scored 32 seconds into overtime to put this edition of the Wildcats' season to it's miserable, enigmatic end, I didn't feel a thing. I liken it to when Barry Bonds broke the all time home run record. I - like much of humanity - didn't like Bonds. Not because of anything he did or didn't do that involved steroids (as I have stated on here previously, I was - and still am - a Mark McGwire fan), but because he was just an outright vile person from my perspective. However, we all knew he was going to break the record. We didn't have to like it... but inevitably, it was going to happen. And when it did, I had no opinion. I wasn't mad. I wasn't sad. I sure as hell wasn't happy. I just was. I didn't care... just like - sadly - I didn't care all that much when tonight's game in Victoriaville ended so abruptly. This team didn't give me reason enough to feel any differently. And to me, that is the worst aspect of this season.
Why was this team so hard to grow attached to? For me, the main reason was that it seldom bore the common characteristics of a winning team. I like to think that following this franchise since it's inception has given me some insight into what constitutes a truly successful team and what is merely just a bunch of skilled players. Fans in Moncton have had the luxury of watching three great teams over the last decade - the 2004 Presidents Cup Finalists, as well as the 2006 and 2010 championship squads. If you look at the rosters of the three teams noted above and have any sense of history regarding the Q, you'll notice right away that all of those clubs were flat out deeper and more talented on paper. However, it runs deeper than that. With those three clubs, you always knew they had that fine combination of skill as well as leadership to not only succeed, but be very likable in the process. If they hit a difficult patch, they usually tried their best to rectify it. They pulled in the same direction.
This year, I didn't see that nearly as much as I would've liked. Instead, what I saw when the chips were down was alot of sooking. Whining all the way to the bench or penalty box. Needless penalties and costly meltdowns. Looking around to see if a cheap penalty could be drawn. There was no Christian Gaudet or Josh Hepditch. No Scott Brannon or David Savard, to name but a few. There really wasn't anyone with that caliber of leadership to reign in the team and get everybody on the same page.
Tonight's game was simply the last example out of many. As the third period progressed, this Wildcats team showed no particular sense of urgency. There was no full court press in Victoriaville territory. No creativity shown. No anger or intensity. If it was a regular season game, you'd look at them and say "They're playing for a point". For a team that we've heard - from more than one source - is "built for the playoffs", they would've been hard pressed to be any more the opposite. It seemed like they were simply hoping for that one lucky bounce that never came. As great as Whitney played over four of these five games - for my money, he was the unofficial MVP of the series - there were many times where Moncton made him look even better. It got to the point, particularly in this series, where once the Cats crossed the red line you could almost predict what was about to take place. And you knew it probably wouldn't work. As teenagers, these players sometimes need to hear from someone other than a coach that things as they stand are not acceptable and the pace has to be picked up. Did the Wildcats hear this enough (or at all) this season?
A few people are calling this the biggest postseason upset in recent league history. Obviously it's not from a statistical standpoint, but from a tangent perspective it could be. This year's Cat collapse draws character traits from a number of other high profile postseason misfires. Like the 2004 Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, a large group of players were brought in from one team and found themselves at the epicenter of sometimes unfavorable actions and incidents at the worst possible times. Like the 2006 Chicoutimi Sagueneens, they were a group with a high skill level that ultimately didn't pay the price required to win at this level at the most important time of the year. Like the 2008 Halifax Mooseheads, their prized acquisition at the trade deadline was not at their disposal for the final game of the year (although it should be noted, Halifax's player was scratched while Moncton's was suspended). And like the 2011 Acadie-Bathurst Titan, they were unable to adapt to a team with less skill that was playing a tough system. Ironically, in the Bathurst example, the team and coach they faced was the same one that just eliminated Moncton.
After tonight's game, Danny Flynn refused to talk to the media. Some have already speculated that this is a possible sign of his impending dismissal. Personally, I hope it's not the case. Although that's not exactly popular opinion at this juncture, I have my reasons for believing that Flynn and his crew had less to do with this failure than meets the eye. I think too many people out there this evening are forgetting that this staff is only three years removed from a Memorial Cup berth. For his part, Flynn has four other Memorial Cup appearances (including one win) as well as a CIS Championship under his belt. This guy didn't just wake up one morning and forget how to build and coach a contending team. He knows what it takes. His teams always have a similar hard working trademark about them, no matter how much or how little talent they possess. This team was the least "Danny Flynn" like team I've ever seen - not just from him, from any coach in this club's history.
For these reasons, I have a hard time believing that the Cats' bench boss is the only person with his fingerprints on this team. I also think Robert Irving has been doing whatever he can to bring this organization to the pinnacle of major junior success in this country (particularly since May 29, 2011). And I also know that he has parted ways with at least one coach in the past for failing to deliver the goods after doing his best to make sure the club had as much talent at it's disposal as possible. Just ask Real Paiement how much fun it is to fall short in a contending year in Moncton.
Mr. Irving stood up in front of a group of people back in November and pledged that the organization was working around the clock to bring a squad together in this city that was capable of capturing a national championship. Perhaps he should've been expressing the need for patience and growth as well.
Where does this leave the Cats? The answer to that is, essentially, wandering the desert. I suspect this off season will bring with it alot of hard searching. Searching for answers as to how this season became unraveled. Searching for new hockey personnel, perhaps. Searching for a plan to try and make what is going to be a lengthy rebuild move along as sensibly as possible. And, once the season begins anew once more, searching for success.
Success is a fleeting thing. It can be hard to grasp. Even harder to hold onto. It can take you on an unforgettable journey, like it did to this team twice before. It can also slip through your fingers like a fist full of sand, like it did over the course of the last seven days. The key is to continue reaching. Finding new ways to grab it and hang on and enjoy the ride while it lasts.
But it's every bit as important to remember what didn't work and to avoid that method by all means necessary in the future. At the end of the day, your biggest mistake is every bit as important as your greatest success.
Saturday, 30 March 2013
Thursday, 28 March 2013
We'll Win Tomorrow... Unless We Lose, Of Course
 |
| This will definitely happen in Game 5 |
I don't know what to expect Friday night. I know what I'd like to see happen but what I like has been conflicting with reality quite a bit the last couple nights. Actually, there's been issues there since September but I'll wait a while before getting into that spiel.
There are no excuses anymore. This is a sixth place team taking on an eleventh place team. On paper, this series is a mismatch. The Victoriaville Tigres are a team that the Moncton Wildcats can defeat three times in a row. Everyone is in the lineup and therefore healthy enough to play and contribute. Enough with the "weak calls" and the "we ran into a hot goaltender" and "they play a very strong system" and "goaltending let us down" that I've heard from all corners since Friday night. If you are the Cats, here is what you do. You forget the last four games ever took place. Go out there, press them like you can, play to your proven compete level and get a god damned win. No farting around, no wasted time (because if you hadn't noticed, you don't have much of that anymore) no "coulda, shoulda, woulda". Just. Win. The. F***ing. Game!
Or go for option B... lose. Become the poster children for monumental failure in the playoffs. Sit in unison with the likes of the 2004 Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, the 2006 Chicoutimi Sagueneens and the 2008 Halifax Mooseheads. All were powerful teams brought together with one sole purpose in mind - to win championships on both the league and national levels. All had the look of champions on any given night. And all came up embarrassingly short in their ultimate goal, with nothing but dysfunction and finger pointing left in their wakes.
At this point, it's one or the other. And... just like at virtually every other time this season, your guess is as good as mine as to what team will come hopping off the visiting bench in Victoriaville tomorrow night. Again, I know what I want to see. I want to have to clear my schedule on Monday and Tuesday night next week (well, I originally wanted those nights free if only because I wanted this series wrapped up in favor of the Wildcats by the end of Easter weekend but I digress). I can't say I'm confident that I'll get the chance to do that. But I'm also not confident that I won't have to do it, either.
I understand there are alot of unknown variables in sports. However, good teams usually have one thing in common. You can count on them to win and be consistent. There's nothing more frustrating in hockey that a good group of players who play bad as a team (and if that isn't the most frustrating thing, it's a close second behind Glenn Healy). This team has been nothing if not frustrating. All day long I have been asked "What are the Cats going to do tomorrow". My standard answer is "Either win 7-1 or lose 2-0". This is the most skilled unpredictable team I've ever seen.
So, Cats... figure it out. Figure out how to win. Figure out how to capture that consistency that's eluded you all season long. Figure out what you need to do to put it all together. It's either that, or I figure out what day next week I bring my unused tickets back to the Cats office.
Oh, and to update the above, Phillip Danault is suspended for Game 5. If that doesn't scream "foreshadowing", I don't know what does. All I can do is echo Gerry Green's comment: "Serenity now!!!"
Tuesday, 26 March 2013
Just To Be Clear...
For those keeping track, this was probably that one "easy" game for the Cats in this series. That was fun while it lasted. Glad to see some things haven't changed. Or anything, for that matter. Hey, at least they figured out the key to solving Whitney!
As well, congrats to the Woodstock Slammers on advancing to the Meek Division Finals after defeating Dieppe 5-4 in overtime in Game 5. Dieppe dug deep to keep their season alive and despite the subpar results to start the playoffs, have set the table nicely heading into next season. More on them in the coming days.
Time to listen to an OT period that shouldn't happening.
Diving Back Into the Fray
Cats are in Victoriaville tonight for Game 3. Still waiting to hear of all these suspensions to be handed down for the many Wildcat transgressions bestowed upon Yannick Jean's squad on Saturday night (I'll give him the Jaskin hit in OT but much of the rest of his commentary can be filed under the category of "maniacal rant"). For that matter, I'm waiting to see if anything will come Jean's way. According to Gilles Courteau and his crew, his comments are being reviewed. I would be shocked if nothing comes the way of Victoriaville's coach in terms of supplementary discipline. For as much flack as the officials in this league get, there should be someone coming to their defense.
As an aside, if Moncton wins tonight I would have no issue with it being on a powerplay in overtime once again, if only for the outstanding reading material it will conjure up.
Tonight's game almost feels like it could turn into a chess match. What strategy will the Tigres employ to combat a Moncton team that successfully found an answer to Victoriaville's stifling defensive system? If not for Brandon Whitney, Game 2 probably doesn't go to overtime. Will Victoriaville still try to clog up the zone as much as possible? Will they open up a bit (I doubt they play a wide open offensive game as that's just asking for trouble)? Will Jean's posturing as well as the hometown crowd have enough of an effect to again put Victoriaville ahead in the series? Did Brandon Whitney eat that three week old shellfish that was anonymously left by his locker after Saturday's game? All questions that will be answered soon enough.
I found a comment made by Quebec based personality Pascal Levesque on twitter over the weekend to be rather funny. Roughly translated, he jokingly stated that Carl-Antoine Delisle was not returning to Victoriaville with his teammates as was going to travel alongside Dimitrij Jaskin instead. What I found even more humorous was that the Tigres twitter guy actually retweeted this. To that I say, good for you twitter guy! Most teams in most leagues these days have a twitter account. Too many of the people behind them don't seem to have the open mindedness to laugh at their own expense from time to time. Levesque's comment was clearly made with no ill intent and to see the Tigres organization recognize it as such was a breath of fresh air... something you wouldn't expect from a team in the midst of a tense playoff series.
Welcome back Ross Johnston! Danny Flynn's comments in today's Times&Transcript indicated that he - rightfully - expects Johnston to be a tad rusty in his first game action since February 16th. As long as he stands in front of the net and makes life miserable for the aforementioned Mr. Whitney, he can shake the rust off at his earliest convenience. Fight size with size. And if you're the rest of the team, play more like the Game 2 Cats, less like the Game 1 Cats. Just a thought...
Dieppe Commandos try to stave off elimination tonight in Woodstock. It's been three long years since Dieppe tasted victory in venerable old barn known as the Carleton County Civic Center. Tonight would be a great time to start. After all, Dieppe put forth their best five on five play of the series and thanks as well to the outstanding netminding of Connor Wilkinson, they managed to stay alive in Game 4. Now the Slammers get Pedro in Game 5, Schilling in Game 6 and in Game 7, anything can happen! Ummm... on second thought, scratch that last part (and credit the legendary Kevin Millar for the quote).
After watching the highlights of Game 1 and 3 and being there in person for Game 2, the one thing that jumped out at me the most is that Woodstock did a very good job of beating Dieppe at their own game. The Slammers' speed was never more prevalent as it has been in this postseason. The jump that the Commandos frequently show through the neutral zone and in attacking territory is exactly how Woodstock has managed to generate their offence. If Dieppe can prevent the strong legged Slammers from coming off the wall or down the middle with force, there's a good chance I'll have to PVR that riveting Supermarket Sweep marathon I'm so looking forward to in lieu of calling a game at the AJL on Thursday night.
If there's one guy who I'd like to see play the role of "unsung hero" for the Commandos tonight, it would have to be Jeff Krichew. Since coming over from the Ramblers organization at New Years (he was actually playing Jr.B at the time of that trade), he has proven to be a solid, 10-15 minute a night guy on the backend for Dieppe and a virtual lock to make the high percentage play every time he's out there. In Game 4 however, I couldn't help but Krichew not only get a bit more ice time, but make the most of it. He was a bit more involved in the play at times, not taking huge risks but not playing it ultra-safe, either. He earned his ice on Sunday night. It would be fitting for him to earn a crucial point or two tonight.
That being said, I'll take a big night from anybody. I wouldn't mind another night (or more) behind the mic.
As an aside, if Moncton wins tonight I would have no issue with it being on a powerplay in overtime once again, if only for the outstanding reading material it will conjure up.
Tonight's game almost feels like it could turn into a chess match. What strategy will the Tigres employ to combat a Moncton team that successfully found an answer to Victoriaville's stifling defensive system? If not for Brandon Whitney, Game 2 probably doesn't go to overtime. Will Victoriaville still try to clog up the zone as much as possible? Will they open up a bit (I doubt they play a wide open offensive game as that's just asking for trouble)? Will Jean's posturing as well as the hometown crowd have enough of an effect to again put Victoriaville ahead in the series? Did Brandon Whitney eat that three week old shellfish that was anonymously left by his locker after Saturday's game? All questions that will be answered soon enough.
I found a comment made by Quebec based personality Pascal Levesque on twitter over the weekend to be rather funny. Roughly translated, he jokingly stated that Carl-Antoine Delisle was not returning to Victoriaville with his teammates as was going to travel alongside Dimitrij Jaskin instead. What I found even more humorous was that the Tigres twitter guy actually retweeted this. To that I say, good for you twitter guy! Most teams in most leagues these days have a twitter account. Too many of the people behind them don't seem to have the open mindedness to laugh at their own expense from time to time. Levesque's comment was clearly made with no ill intent and to see the Tigres organization recognize it as such was a breath of fresh air... something you wouldn't expect from a team in the midst of a tense playoff series.
Welcome back Ross Johnston! Danny Flynn's comments in today's Times&Transcript indicated that he - rightfully - expects Johnston to be a tad rusty in his first game action since February 16th. As long as he stands in front of the net and makes life miserable for the aforementioned Mr. Whitney, he can shake the rust off at his earliest convenience. Fight size with size. And if you're the rest of the team, play more like the Game 2 Cats, less like the Game 1 Cats. Just a thought...
Dieppe Commandos try to stave off elimination tonight in Woodstock. It's been three long years since Dieppe tasted victory in venerable old barn known as the Carleton County Civic Center. Tonight would be a great time to start. After all, Dieppe put forth their best five on five play of the series and thanks as well to the outstanding netminding of Connor Wilkinson, they managed to stay alive in Game 4. Now the Slammers get Pedro in Game 5, Schilling in Game 6 and in Game 7, anything can happen! Ummm... on second thought, scratch that last part (and credit the legendary Kevin Millar for the quote).
After watching the highlights of Game 1 and 3 and being there in person for Game 2, the one thing that jumped out at me the most is that Woodstock did a very good job of beating Dieppe at their own game. The Slammers' speed was never more prevalent as it has been in this postseason. The jump that the Commandos frequently show through the neutral zone and in attacking territory is exactly how Woodstock has managed to generate their offence. If Dieppe can prevent the strong legged Slammers from coming off the wall or down the middle with force, there's a good chance I'll have to PVR that riveting Supermarket Sweep marathon I'm so looking forward to in lieu of calling a game at the AJL on Thursday night.
If there's one guy who I'd like to see play the role of "unsung hero" for the Commandos tonight, it would have to be Jeff Krichew. Since coming over from the Ramblers organization at New Years (he was actually playing Jr.B at the time of that trade), he has proven to be a solid, 10-15 minute a night guy on the backend for Dieppe and a virtual lock to make the high percentage play every time he's out there. In Game 4 however, I couldn't help but Krichew not only get a bit more ice time, but make the most of it. He was a bit more involved in the play at times, not taking huge risks but not playing it ultra-safe, either. He earned his ice on Sunday night. It would be fitting for him to earn a crucial point or two tonight.
That being said, I'll take a big night from anybody. I wouldn't mind another night (or more) behind the mic.
Sunday, 24 March 2013
Working Overtime
Well, that was about 41 more minutes spent in a rink than what I expected this weekend.
First, there was last night. Does anyone out there still think this series with Victoriaville will be a cakewalk? Even if you break through their 1-3--------1 (the last one is the guy behind the Tigres net) you still have that large mass of humanity (and one hell of a goalie) named Brandon Whitney to contend with. Just to keep score, that's a shutout loss and a win in OT... on a powerplay goal no less. Again, I ask... anyone see a dominating Moncton win coming anytime soon? I just hope to see a win in Victo between now and Friday to get the series back to Moncton.
I mentioned before this series that if something was to happen to Dimitrij Jaskin, this series would become infinitely more difficult for the Cats. When I said that, I was thinking something along the lines of injury or suspension (which ironically, could be coming as I'll discuss in a little bit). I wasn't expecting the piece of Velcro posing as a hockey player known as Carl-Antoine Delisle to enter the equation. Yannick Jean has his team playing very systematic hockey. So systematic in fact that when the Cats won a defensive zone faceoff in the first period last night, the Tigres retreated into the 1-3-1 immediately as if the linesman had dropped a grenade instead of a puck in the faceoff circle. Another part of the plan was for Delisle to pull a page from the book of Kory Baker and follow Jaskin around the ice like a lost puppy dog. Essentially, thanks to this ploy, Jaskin is not a factor, although I would love to see the big guy start to gravitate more towards the middle of the ice, taking a second Tigre check with him as well as creating more room out there for a puck carrier like Danault or Veilleux, as he did at least once in the first period. That doesn't happen alot, though. And look at the results. It's not hard to figure out who the key cog on the Wildcats roster is. Yannick Jean just happens to be the first coach to key in on him to this degree.
Speaking of Yannick, he's apparently not happy with the refs or the Wildcats game play over the course of the first two games. I have to admit, he has a point to a degree. The game was not well officiated, with a couple of very dangerous plays not penalized in order to seemingly make up for earlier, borderline calls. As well, I wouldn't be surprised if Jaskin is suspended for some amount of time after the run he took at a Victoriaville player (who it was exactly escapes me at the moment) in overtime. The hit was high and clearly charging. It was actually very reminiscent of the hit Jaskin laid out on Ryan MacKinnon against Rimouski last month, except this one wasn't from behind. With all that being said, Jean is off the mark in three regards. The amount of "head hunting" the Cats are "employing" is not nearly as severe as he makes it sound. Although the officiating was subpar, it was subpar for both clubs. Finally, his comments that Whitney "had to be good" because of the powerplay chances afforded Moncton is clearly the remarks of a person who is not thinking before he speaks. Case in point: the overtime period. Before the eventual winner (admittedly on the powerplay), the Cats were pressing very heavily in Victoriaville territory while playing five on five. In one sequence, I counted six Wildcat shots on goal and no less than three quality chances in a continuous even strength sequence that lasted about a minute and a half. Of the 16 Wildcat shots in overtime, I'll take a guess and say at least 12 came while even up and 8-10 were of the "dangerous" variety.
Jean is a great coach who's come a long way in this league. However, there are still times when he has to remember to hold his tongue. I can understand at least part of his frustration and in a few regards, his complaints are justified. That being said, he went too far with his comments. If he's trying to deflect attention away from his team's loss, he's going about it the wrong way. The league should - and no doubt will - step in a reprimand the Tigres bench boss accordingly.
Game 3 goes down Tuesday night at the hockey rink that looks from the outside like it should be housing a furniture store, le Colisee Desjardins. Play like they did last night and the Wildcats should control their own destiny. As well, catching Brandon Whitney on an off day would go a long way... I'm not particularly holding my breath on that, though.
Meanwhile in Dieppe, the Commandos were such a fan of overtime, they decided to play it for the better part of two periods. They were also a fan of not going home for the summer either, as Mark Simpson proved to be the hero of the day on offense, accounting for all of the Commandos scoring in their 2-1 victory over Woodstock in Game 4. This series has been a Bizzaro World of sorts for Dieppe, a team that was full marks in five on five situations all season long while dealing with sometimes inconsistent special teams play. In this series, five on five action has made all the difference. And until today, it was not a positive difference for the Commandos.
Today was just a good old fashioned playoff battle, a thoroughly entertaining contest for those who made their way to the rink. The Commandos proved to themselves all over again that they could hang with the Slammers on even terms, working their man on man defensive assignments with great effectiveness. Special teams remained a strong point however, as Dieppe ran their penalty kill to a perfect 16/16 in the series, boxing out Woodstock in outnumbered situations with precision. Like the Wildcats, they too were afforded a powerplay opportunity in overtime (actually, a 5 on 3, the first time I've ever seen that happen to a team that deep into overtime) and made no mistake when given the chance.
Then there was the effort between the pipes.
I think most people felt before this series that if there was one thing the Commandos didn't have to worry about, it was the play of Connor Wilkinson. Unfortunately, over the course of the first two games, it became the primary concern. So much so, that Alex St-Arnaud got the start for game 3 in Woodstock on Friday night. Today, it was back to Connor... and for Connor, it was back to business. The 19 year old simply put up his best game of the season. The guy who was in nets for Game 2 was fighting a losing battle... as well as fighting the puck. He was not reading the play well and was having a very tough time tracking the puck. He just didn't look comfortable out there. Today, Connor Wilkinson looked like he could've gone five overtimes. Facing elimination, trying to redeem himself and his teammates and up against a formidable counterpart in Simon-Pier Chamberland (who was no less brilliant for the Slammers today), to say the Commandos netminder had a tall order to fill today would be an understatement. It wasn't pretty at times, but it was effective. And it was more than enough. And if he can do the same on Tuesday night in Woodstock, maybe I have to leave my Thursday night open.
I can't say that would bother me. I'd probably just be sitting at home with a rum and coke otherwise anyway.
First, there was last night. Does anyone out there still think this series with Victoriaville will be a cakewalk? Even if you break through their 1-3--------1 (the last one is the guy behind the Tigres net) you still have that large mass of humanity (and one hell of a goalie) named Brandon Whitney to contend with. Just to keep score, that's a shutout loss and a win in OT... on a powerplay goal no less. Again, I ask... anyone see a dominating Moncton win coming anytime soon? I just hope to see a win in Victo between now and Friday to get the series back to Moncton.
I mentioned before this series that if something was to happen to Dimitrij Jaskin, this series would become infinitely more difficult for the Cats. When I said that, I was thinking something along the lines of injury or suspension (which ironically, could be coming as I'll discuss in a little bit). I wasn't expecting the piece of Velcro posing as a hockey player known as Carl-Antoine Delisle to enter the equation. Yannick Jean has his team playing very systematic hockey. So systematic in fact that when the Cats won a defensive zone faceoff in the first period last night, the Tigres retreated into the 1-3-1 immediately as if the linesman had dropped a grenade instead of a puck in the faceoff circle. Another part of the plan was for Delisle to pull a page from the book of Kory Baker and follow Jaskin around the ice like a lost puppy dog. Essentially, thanks to this ploy, Jaskin is not a factor, although I would love to see the big guy start to gravitate more towards the middle of the ice, taking a second Tigre check with him as well as creating more room out there for a puck carrier like Danault or Veilleux, as he did at least once in the first period. That doesn't happen alot, though. And look at the results. It's not hard to figure out who the key cog on the Wildcats roster is. Yannick Jean just happens to be the first coach to key in on him to this degree.
Speaking of Yannick, he's apparently not happy with the refs or the Wildcats game play over the course of the first two games. I have to admit, he has a point to a degree. The game was not well officiated, with a couple of very dangerous plays not penalized in order to seemingly make up for earlier, borderline calls. As well, I wouldn't be surprised if Jaskin is suspended for some amount of time after the run he took at a Victoriaville player (who it was exactly escapes me at the moment) in overtime. The hit was high and clearly charging. It was actually very reminiscent of the hit Jaskin laid out on Ryan MacKinnon against Rimouski last month, except this one wasn't from behind. With all that being said, Jean is off the mark in three regards. The amount of "head hunting" the Cats are "employing" is not nearly as severe as he makes it sound. Although the officiating was subpar, it was subpar for both clubs. Finally, his comments that Whitney "had to be good" because of the powerplay chances afforded Moncton is clearly the remarks of a person who is not thinking before he speaks. Case in point: the overtime period. Before the eventual winner (admittedly on the powerplay), the Cats were pressing very heavily in Victoriaville territory while playing five on five. In one sequence, I counted six Wildcat shots on goal and no less than three quality chances in a continuous even strength sequence that lasted about a minute and a half. Of the 16 Wildcat shots in overtime, I'll take a guess and say at least 12 came while even up and 8-10 were of the "dangerous" variety.
Jean is a great coach who's come a long way in this league. However, there are still times when he has to remember to hold his tongue. I can understand at least part of his frustration and in a few regards, his complaints are justified. That being said, he went too far with his comments. If he's trying to deflect attention away from his team's loss, he's going about it the wrong way. The league should - and no doubt will - step in a reprimand the Tigres bench boss accordingly.
Game 3 goes down Tuesday night at the hockey rink that looks from the outside like it should be housing a furniture store, le Colisee Desjardins. Play like they did last night and the Wildcats should control their own destiny. As well, catching Brandon Whitney on an off day would go a long way... I'm not particularly holding my breath on that, though.
Meanwhile in Dieppe, the Commandos were such a fan of overtime, they decided to play it for the better part of two periods. They were also a fan of not going home for the summer either, as Mark Simpson proved to be the hero of the day on offense, accounting for all of the Commandos scoring in their 2-1 victory over Woodstock in Game 4. This series has been a Bizzaro World of sorts for Dieppe, a team that was full marks in five on five situations all season long while dealing with sometimes inconsistent special teams play. In this series, five on five action has made all the difference. And until today, it was not a positive difference for the Commandos.
Today was just a good old fashioned playoff battle, a thoroughly entertaining contest for those who made their way to the rink. The Commandos proved to themselves all over again that they could hang with the Slammers on even terms, working their man on man defensive assignments with great effectiveness. Special teams remained a strong point however, as Dieppe ran their penalty kill to a perfect 16/16 in the series, boxing out Woodstock in outnumbered situations with precision. Like the Wildcats, they too were afforded a powerplay opportunity in overtime (actually, a 5 on 3, the first time I've ever seen that happen to a team that deep into overtime) and made no mistake when given the chance.
Then there was the effort between the pipes.
I think most people felt before this series that if there was one thing the Commandos didn't have to worry about, it was the play of Connor Wilkinson. Unfortunately, over the course of the first two games, it became the primary concern. So much so, that Alex St-Arnaud got the start for game 3 in Woodstock on Friday night. Today, it was back to Connor... and for Connor, it was back to business. The 19 year old simply put up his best game of the season. The guy who was in nets for Game 2 was fighting a losing battle... as well as fighting the puck. He was not reading the play well and was having a very tough time tracking the puck. He just didn't look comfortable out there. Today, Connor Wilkinson looked like he could've gone five overtimes. Facing elimination, trying to redeem himself and his teammates and up against a formidable counterpart in Simon-Pier Chamberland (who was no less brilliant for the Slammers today), to say the Commandos netminder had a tall order to fill today would be an understatement. It wasn't pretty at times, but it was effective. And it was more than enough. And if he can do the same on Tuesday night in Woodstock, maybe I have to leave my Thursday night open.
I can't say that would bother me. I'd probably just be sitting at home with a rum and coke otherwise anyway.
Saturday, 23 March 2013
Got Any Other Bright Ideas?
Earlier this week, I touched upon the fact that regular season hockey and playoff hockey are two very different animals. If you were at the Coliseum last night, you got a first hand look at this theory. The Wildcats played their opening game of the playoffs in regular season mode. And the final result was a reflection of that.
The most amazing part of this game for me was that the style Victoriaville employed last night was nearly identical to systems used the last time the two teams met at the Coliseum. They are systematic. They play the 1-3-1 very well. When the game is tied or the Tigres are otherwise on the attack, they seldom enter the offensive zone three wide - it's usually a two man entry. When they have a lead, they may switch to a more traditional trap, with four men stationed on the red line. Bottom line, you generally have a good idea in terms of what you can expect.
So, a team employing an almost identical game plan in two separate contests. That can only mean that it was the Cats who switched things up.
And how they switched things up was by playing with less urgency, not hitting the attacking blueline with speed, playing the dump and chase when that tactic was simply not going to be a viable option and failing to move the puck with much precision or strength. The Tigres simply waited for an opportunity and when that opportunity presented itself, they took full advantage.
The aspect that concerns me the most is that Yannick Jean's team has been in this exact same situation before. That was in 2011. Victo was an 11th place team in the regular season that year as well. They played Bathurst in the first round. They employed a similar style. The results? Surprising to most.
Will this Wildcats team fall into the same trap as the Titan two years ago? I'm leaning towards no... but how the first ten minutes play out in Game 2 will go a long way towards swaying my opinion one way or the other. If Moncton comes out with speed, force their way through the neutral zone clogging Tigres system and force Victo into changing their style to the type of game they are ill suited to play, the mood and momentum of this series will shift quickly. Long story short, the Cats have to do something in Game 2 that they didn't do in Game 1: make things tough for the Tigres. Although Victoriaville was full marks for last night's victory, that doesn't mean they didn't look like a beatable team.
So now we wait for this evening. And the same question I've been asking since the fall crops up once again - what Moncton Wildcats team will show up? It's a question I can never seem to get a consistent answer to.
Meanwhile in Woodstock, the Dieppe Commandos left the rink even deeper in the hole, down three games to none after a 6-2 Slammers victory. Jake Wright, Brennan Saulnier, EJ Faust and Ian Lewis posted two points each as Woodstock jumped out to a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes and never looked back. One of the most bizarre aspects of this series has to be the fact that Dieppe is actually winning the special teams battle by a decent sized margin after three games. Despite being outscored by an aggregate of 18-5, they are a perfect 11/11 on the penalty kill while going 3/11 on the powerplay, good for first and second overall respectively among the teams in the MHL playoffs to this point. To say that five on five play has been the Commandos' Achilles heel would definitely be an understatement.
It becomes even more of a shift by shift scenario for Dieppe as they head back to the AJL for Game 4 on Sunday at 2:30. The Commandos are capable of extending this series. Now more than ever is the time for capabilities to translate into results.
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Predictions are for Gypsies... And Bloggers With Too Much Time on Their Hands
The first round of the QMJHL playoffs get underway this evening, with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan visiting the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in Game 1 of that series. All other series will commence tomorrow night. Some will be over before the next episode of Survivor is aired in it's entirety (assuming Game 4 in Saint John doesn't go too long). Others should prove to be downright entertaining. Here's a look at how I see things shaking down. Regular season point totals are in parenthesis after each team name.
#1 Halifax Mooseheads (120) vs. #16 Saint John Sea Dogs (47)
Having the 16th place team participate in the QMJHL playoffs is akin to teams like Denmark and Norway in the top division of the World Junior tournament. Ten out of ten times, you know the outcome. I love how on the Q site's (admittedly pretty handy) head to head profile page you can see what the season series between these two teams were this year... as well as last year! How the Sea Dogs did against Halifax in 2011-12 (Saint John won that season series 7-1, for the record) has about as much bearing on this series as who would win a bear baiting competition between Brett Gallant and Jody Shelley (Joel Theriault would beat both of them, for the record).
One positive to this series is that there's no real need to provide a detailed breakdown, thus allowing me to concentrate harder on the matchups that will undoubtedly be much more closely contested. The Sea Dogs are about to get smoked. The End.
Prediction - Halifax in 4
Saint John could win if... A nuclear device strikes HRM. Or the CHLPA successfully pulls off a swift uprising and the entire Mooseheads roster goes on strike. For the record, I'd bet on the former happening far sooner than the latter.
#2 Baie-Comeau Drakkar (93) vs. #15 Sherbrooke Phoenix (51)
This series should prove to be twice as close as the Moose/Sea Dogs series. Sadly, that's not saying much. The Phoenix actually fared pretty darned well on the year, all things considered. Their 22 wins are particularly impressive considering it took eight games for them to capture their first one. However, the Drakkar are quick, talented and quite well balanced. Led by euros Petr Straka and Valentin Zykov, the Drakk possess five 20 goal men and five point-per-game players, while Philippe Cadorette provides solid if understated goaltending. Like the previously mentioned series, look for this one to end as quickly as possible, affording Baie-Comeau just their second series win since the 2003 Conference Finals...hey, remember Conferences???
Prediction - Baie-Comeau in 4
Sherbrooke could win if... It's not happening. However, I could very easily see goaltender Jacob Gervais-Chouinard stealing a game in this series for the Phoeix or at the very least taking a game to OT. That's about where it ends, however.
#3 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (90) vs. #14 Acadie-Bathurst Titan (59)
The Armada are a team that haven't really gotten much respect this season. Halifax has stolen most of the headlines. Rimouski and, to a lesser extent, Baie-Comeau have been credited for their strong seasons. However, the Armada have quietly prodded along in the weaker West Division, piling up wins and putting them in prime position to perhaps surprise a few teams along the way. One of the defensive forces of the league, guys like Xavier Ouellet, Samuel Carrier and Etienne Marcoux will hold their own against opposing shooters while up front it will most likely be scoring by committee.
The return of Stefan Matteau Jr. will only help spread the offense around on team that would probably consider it's play in the attacking zone to be it's Achilles heel.
Prediction - Blainville-Boisbriand in 5
Acadie-Bathurst could win if... The Armada's offense totally dries up and the Titan's scoring stars take over. These are two very different teams facing off against one another, but in the end the team commitment to defense on the Armada trumps such high flyers as Zach O'Brien, Michel Beaudry and Marc-Olivier Brouillard. As well, Marcoux outduels Jacob Brennan probably 9 times out of 10. This is a series in which most are predicting a five game win for the Armada, but probably can't see this series get extended to even a sixth game.
#4 Rimouski Oceanic (91) vs #13 Gatineau Olympiques (63)
If not for a plethora of injuries to l'Oceanic, there's a very good chance the Drakkar occupy this spot (as it was, there was only a two point differential between the two clubs). Instead of the expansion Phoenix, Rimouski now faces a Gatineau team in which it's biggest wildcard stands behind the bench. Over the years, Benoit Groulx has developed this sort of mystique as a guy who can get it done in the postseason. Be it an unexpected championship (2003) or crazy series upset (2006 vs. Chicoutimi). Unfortunately, Groulx hasn't had the same touch in his second stint behind the O's bench. Even if he still did, this series appears to be a mismatch.
This Rimouski team won't wow you like the Lecavalier/Richards/Crosby teams did. However, they get the job done. Serge Beausoleil's guys can pretty much play it any way you wish - high scoring, grind 'em out defensive, wide open or very controlled. They are one of the more adaptable teams in the league, which in turn makes them a troublesome foe come playoff time.
Prediction - Rimouski in 5
Gatineau could win if... Their best players play over their heads and take full advantage over a Rimouski team still nursing some bodies. Guys like Hyka and Reway can change a game on their own. They have a solid group of two way forwards in Taylor Burke, Adam Champman and Emile Poirier. If they stay out of the box (which they haven't all year) and tighten up defensively (which they haven't all year), they could make things interesting. It's an extreme longshot, however. A six game loss is possible. Taking Rimouski to seven would be phenomenal.
#5 Quebec Remparts (89) vs #12 Chicoutimi Sagueneens
Remember when this used to be the series we all hoped for? Saint Patrick vs. King Richard? The gamesmanship? The fireworks? Ironically, when it did happen, it was a non-event on the scoreboard and a huuuuuuuuge event in another sense. Nowadays, it's just another series. A Quebec team that was expected to nip at Halifax's heels (or even finish first overall outright) by many only to fall short of the mark versus a Chicoutimi team that has seemingly spun it's wheels for much of the last decade.
There's some great individual talent on both sides but at the end of the day Quebec is simply better. The Remps offensive weapons (Adam Erne, Anthony Duclair, Logan Shaw, Mikael Grigorenko et al) against Chicoutimi's defensive corps plus a marked advantage behind the bench makes all the difference in this one.
Prediction - Quebec in 5
Chicoutimi could win if... Quebec stinks up the joint. Let me take you back to January 27th of this year. Remparts at Wildcats. Quebec basically came out and failed to execute in a way I had not yet seen under the Roy regime. The end result was this. As good as this Quebec team is, they've laid their share of eggs during the regular season. As well, Chicoutimi has some impressive names on their bench with the likes of Charles Hudon, Laurent Dauphin, Guillaume Asselin and Mathieu Gagnon. As well, Christopher Gibson is as good between the pipes as anyone in the league when he's on. However, the odds of the Remparts playing subpar for four out of seven are long. The recent return of Grigorenko from the Buffalo Sabres is just another nail in the Sags' coffin.
#6 Moncton Wildcats (87) vs. #11 Victoriaville Tigres (73)
Moncton should win. They should hold the advantage offensively. They should have the advantage on the backend. They should be able to outcoach their opposition. They should get good enough goaltending to outlast their opponent. However, this year's Wildcats squad has been inundated with "shoulds" since day one. The offensive depth the Cats contain alone should make this series a forgone conclusion. There's noone on the Tigres that can match up against the pairing of Jonathan Narbonne and Jonathan Racine when those two are dialed in. And Alex Dubeau has steadily picked up his play throughout the season to the point where he can be counted on to keep his team in close games.
Of course, Dubeau is a bit of a question mark going into the opening game of this series. In this morning's Times & Transcript, the goaltender said he was ready to go. Danny Flynn said "We'll have to wait and see". Of course, Danny is one of those hockey guys where if you asked him what he had for breakfast, the answer will invariably be "We'll have to wait and see".
I say barring something totally unexpected, #31 will be back between the pipes for Moncton tomorrow night. And barring something slightly less unexpected, he'll be back for round two as well.
Prediction - Moncton in 6
Victoriaville could win if... Well, first off, if Dimirtij Jaskin was forced out of the lineup for any substantial amount of time, all bets are most definitely off right then and there. If Moncton totally looses it's composure and go on one of their patented streaks of inconsistency and Victo is able to take advantage, things could get dicey for the Wildcats. Yannick Jean's boys play a strong systematic game while still keeping things open enough to make guys like Angelo Miceli, Phillipe Halley, Phillipe Maillet and the ultra underrated defenseman Petr Sidlik very dangerous with puck on stick. As well, Brandon Whitney is as steady as they go in nets, his big frame more than capable of winning a couple games in itself. This Wildcats team is nearly unstoppable when on. If they stay on, the "what ifs" become a non-factor and this series gets even shorter. Oh... and I would have no issue seeing copious amounts of a line with Yannick Veilleux, Dimitrij Jaskin and Phillip Danault by the way. I'm sure Veilleux agrees.
#7 PEI Rocket (86) vs. #10 Val d'Or Foreurs (76)
I can recall the last time the PEI Rocket were in Round 2. To put that in perspective, I had gotten engaged the previous Christmas (my wife and I have been married seven and a half years), I was living in a basement apartment (I've lived in my current house for eight and a half years), I was well removed from my on-air debut as a commentator (I'm wrapping up my eighth season behind the mic). I traveled to the Charlottetown Civic Center for Game 6 of their second round series against Moncton with my future wife and a small group of friends. One of the topics of conversation on the way over was would the Red Sox finally win a World Series that year (they have since won two). The main topic on the way back home was how the Cats would contain Sidney Crosby and Rimouski in round three (the answer was Ryan Salvis). The date was April 12th, 2004. When James Sanford scored on Jonathan Boutin 8:23 into OT, it marked the last moment to date in which the PEI Rocket were a participant in the second round of the QMJHL playoffs.
I feel that will change in a couple weeks' time.
These two teams are remarkably similar in many ways. They can both provide flash and dash offensively, led by offensive catalysts on either side (PEI has scoring leader Ben Duffy and Josh Currie, Val d'Or has 50 goal man Anthony Mantha and Anton Zlobin). They can bang bodies (Dunn, Henley, Poudrier, Gelinas, meet Oligny, Vance, Graves) and they have solid if unspectacular netminders in Antoine Bibeau and Francois Tremblay. I give PEI the edge based on coaching (I'm a big fan of Gordie Dwyer and his systems) and a stronger overall commitment to defense. However, it's not a huge stretch.
Prediction - PEI in 7
Val d'Or could win if... They score one more goal, pretty much. This has all the makings of a tight, hard fought affair. Get PEI in the box and Mantha, Zlobin and Brandon Hynes could turn the offensive zone into their own personal playground. Val d'Or has a roster full of guys usually referred to as "character players" This is code for "pain in the posterior region to play against". As the season wound down, I came to the conclusion that PEI could make life tough for any team in the league not located in Halifax (of course, that could be because I've been well versed in the Rocket's ability to consistently hand the Wildcats their lunch thus leaving me overly impressed, but I digress). However, of all teams for them to draw in round one, the Foreurs might be the most challenging - if only because Val d'Or is probably the team most capable of beating PEI at their own game. This could very well be the most entertaining series of the first round.
#8 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (84) vs. #9 Drummondville Voltigeurs (80)
The Huskies find themselves in a position to realistically win their first playoff series since 2008. They are a pesky little team that likes to play wide open, as their second ranked offense and 12th ranked defense can attest. At times I'm sure Andre Tourigny feels like he's aged five years while trying to get results out of such a run and gun outfit, but the Huskies came out of the season with 40 wins in their back pocket - certainly a fair consolation for playing an oft-criticized style. The Huskies boast five players with 29 or more goals and the league's leading scorer among blueliners in Mathieu Brisebois. Defense is supposed to win games - especially in the playoffs - but in this case, there's just too much offense on the side of Rouyn-Noranda for Drummondville to keep pace.
Prediction - Rouyn-Noranda in 6
Drummondville could win if... The Huskies defense and goaltending let them. From the blueline back, the Volts have a clear advantage. In fact, they even have a pretty decent reply to the offense of Brisebois in Nikolas Brouillard and Jordan Murray. Up front, there aren't any big name guys, but there are some pesky ones. A guy like Jerome Verrier is the epitome of frustrating. He'll score a goal (which he did 35 times this year) and take a psychological advantage from you at the same time. Guys like Verrier, Jeremie Malouin, and Matthew Boudens are simply not fun to play against. As quick as the Huskies are, if you bottle up their speed, they become alot less impressive. In nets, rookie Louis-Phillipe Guindon quietly put together an impressive season and as a result, holds the upper hand among netminders between both clubs entering the series. If Mario Duhamel's troops can stay patient, retain that netminding advantage, keep the Huskies to the outside and start getting them well acquainted with the boards, Drummondville could very well find themselves in round two.
Oh and I stopped playing proline years ago because I never won anything. So keep that in mind after reading all this.
#1 Halifax Mooseheads (120) vs. #16 Saint John Sea Dogs (47)
Having the 16th place team participate in the QMJHL playoffs is akin to teams like Denmark and Norway in the top division of the World Junior tournament. Ten out of ten times, you know the outcome. I love how on the Q site's (admittedly pretty handy) head to head profile page you can see what the season series between these two teams were this year... as well as last year! How the Sea Dogs did against Halifax in 2011-12 (Saint John won that season series 7-1, for the record) has about as much bearing on this series as who would win a bear baiting competition between Brett Gallant and Jody Shelley (Joel Theriault would beat both of them, for the record).
One positive to this series is that there's no real need to provide a detailed breakdown, thus allowing me to concentrate harder on the matchups that will undoubtedly be much more closely contested. The Sea Dogs are about to get smoked. The End.
Prediction - Halifax in 4
Saint John could win if... A nuclear device strikes HRM. Or the CHLPA successfully pulls off a swift uprising and the entire Mooseheads roster goes on strike. For the record, I'd bet on the former happening far sooner than the latter.
#2 Baie-Comeau Drakkar (93) vs. #15 Sherbrooke Phoenix (51)
This series should prove to be twice as close as the Moose/Sea Dogs series. Sadly, that's not saying much. The Phoenix actually fared pretty darned well on the year, all things considered. Their 22 wins are particularly impressive considering it took eight games for them to capture their first one. However, the Drakkar are quick, talented and quite well balanced. Led by euros Petr Straka and Valentin Zykov, the Drakk possess five 20 goal men and five point-per-game players, while Philippe Cadorette provides solid if understated goaltending. Like the previously mentioned series, look for this one to end as quickly as possible, affording Baie-Comeau just their second series win since the 2003 Conference Finals...hey, remember Conferences???
Prediction - Baie-Comeau in 4
Sherbrooke could win if... It's not happening. However, I could very easily see goaltender Jacob Gervais-Chouinard stealing a game in this series for the Phoeix or at the very least taking a game to OT. That's about where it ends, however.
#3 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (90) vs. #14 Acadie-Bathurst Titan (59)
The Armada are a team that haven't really gotten much respect this season. Halifax has stolen most of the headlines. Rimouski and, to a lesser extent, Baie-Comeau have been credited for their strong seasons. However, the Armada have quietly prodded along in the weaker West Division, piling up wins and putting them in prime position to perhaps surprise a few teams along the way. One of the defensive forces of the league, guys like Xavier Ouellet, Samuel Carrier and Etienne Marcoux will hold their own against opposing shooters while up front it will most likely be scoring by committee.
The return of Stefan Matteau Jr. will only help spread the offense around on team that would probably consider it's play in the attacking zone to be it's Achilles heel.
Prediction - Blainville-Boisbriand in 5
Acadie-Bathurst could win if... The Armada's offense totally dries up and the Titan's scoring stars take over. These are two very different teams facing off against one another, but in the end the team commitment to defense on the Armada trumps such high flyers as Zach O'Brien, Michel Beaudry and Marc-Olivier Brouillard. As well, Marcoux outduels Jacob Brennan probably 9 times out of 10. This is a series in which most are predicting a five game win for the Armada, but probably can't see this series get extended to even a sixth game.
#4 Rimouski Oceanic (91) vs #13 Gatineau Olympiques (63)
If not for a plethora of injuries to l'Oceanic, there's a very good chance the Drakkar occupy this spot (as it was, there was only a two point differential between the two clubs). Instead of the expansion Phoenix, Rimouski now faces a Gatineau team in which it's biggest wildcard stands behind the bench. Over the years, Benoit Groulx has developed this sort of mystique as a guy who can get it done in the postseason. Be it an unexpected championship (2003) or crazy series upset (2006 vs. Chicoutimi). Unfortunately, Groulx hasn't had the same touch in his second stint behind the O's bench. Even if he still did, this series appears to be a mismatch.
This Rimouski team won't wow you like the Lecavalier/Richards/Crosby teams did. However, they get the job done. Serge Beausoleil's guys can pretty much play it any way you wish - high scoring, grind 'em out defensive, wide open or very controlled. They are one of the more adaptable teams in the league, which in turn makes them a troublesome foe come playoff time.
Prediction - Rimouski in 5
Gatineau could win if... Their best players play over their heads and take full advantage over a Rimouski team still nursing some bodies. Guys like Hyka and Reway can change a game on their own. They have a solid group of two way forwards in Taylor Burke, Adam Champman and Emile Poirier. If they stay out of the box (which they haven't all year) and tighten up defensively (which they haven't all year), they could make things interesting. It's an extreme longshot, however. A six game loss is possible. Taking Rimouski to seven would be phenomenal.
#5 Quebec Remparts (89) vs #12 Chicoutimi Sagueneens
Remember when this used to be the series we all hoped for? Saint Patrick vs. King Richard? The gamesmanship? The fireworks? Ironically, when it did happen, it was a non-event on the scoreboard and a huuuuuuuuge event in another sense. Nowadays, it's just another series. A Quebec team that was expected to nip at Halifax's heels (or even finish first overall outright) by many only to fall short of the mark versus a Chicoutimi team that has seemingly spun it's wheels for much of the last decade.
There's some great individual talent on both sides but at the end of the day Quebec is simply better. The Remps offensive weapons (Adam Erne, Anthony Duclair, Logan Shaw, Mikael Grigorenko et al) against Chicoutimi's defensive corps plus a marked advantage behind the bench makes all the difference in this one.
Prediction - Quebec in 5
Chicoutimi could win if... Quebec stinks up the joint. Let me take you back to January 27th of this year. Remparts at Wildcats. Quebec basically came out and failed to execute in a way I had not yet seen under the Roy regime. The end result was this. As good as this Quebec team is, they've laid their share of eggs during the regular season. As well, Chicoutimi has some impressive names on their bench with the likes of Charles Hudon, Laurent Dauphin, Guillaume Asselin and Mathieu Gagnon. As well, Christopher Gibson is as good between the pipes as anyone in the league when he's on. However, the odds of the Remparts playing subpar for four out of seven are long. The recent return of Grigorenko from the Buffalo Sabres is just another nail in the Sags' coffin.
#6 Moncton Wildcats (87) vs. #11 Victoriaville Tigres (73)
Moncton should win. They should hold the advantage offensively. They should have the advantage on the backend. They should be able to outcoach their opposition. They should get good enough goaltending to outlast their opponent. However, this year's Wildcats squad has been inundated with "shoulds" since day one. The offensive depth the Cats contain alone should make this series a forgone conclusion. There's noone on the Tigres that can match up against the pairing of Jonathan Narbonne and Jonathan Racine when those two are dialed in. And Alex Dubeau has steadily picked up his play throughout the season to the point where he can be counted on to keep his team in close games.
Of course, Dubeau is a bit of a question mark going into the opening game of this series. In this morning's Times & Transcript, the goaltender said he was ready to go. Danny Flynn said "We'll have to wait and see". Of course, Danny is one of those hockey guys where if you asked him what he had for breakfast, the answer will invariably be "We'll have to wait and see".
I say barring something totally unexpected, #31 will be back between the pipes for Moncton tomorrow night. And barring something slightly less unexpected, he'll be back for round two as well.
Prediction - Moncton in 6
Victoriaville could win if... Well, first off, if Dimirtij Jaskin was forced out of the lineup for any substantial amount of time, all bets are most definitely off right then and there. If Moncton totally looses it's composure and go on one of their patented streaks of inconsistency and Victo is able to take advantage, things could get dicey for the Wildcats. Yannick Jean's boys play a strong systematic game while still keeping things open enough to make guys like Angelo Miceli, Phillipe Halley, Phillipe Maillet and the ultra underrated defenseman Petr Sidlik very dangerous with puck on stick. As well, Brandon Whitney is as steady as they go in nets, his big frame more than capable of winning a couple games in itself. This Wildcats team is nearly unstoppable when on. If they stay on, the "what ifs" become a non-factor and this series gets even shorter. Oh... and I would have no issue seeing copious amounts of a line with Yannick Veilleux, Dimitrij Jaskin and Phillip Danault by the way. I'm sure Veilleux agrees.
#7 PEI Rocket (86) vs. #10 Val d'Or Foreurs (76)
I can recall the last time the PEI Rocket were in Round 2. To put that in perspective, I had gotten engaged the previous Christmas (my wife and I have been married seven and a half years), I was living in a basement apartment (I've lived in my current house for eight and a half years), I was well removed from my on-air debut as a commentator (I'm wrapping up my eighth season behind the mic). I traveled to the Charlottetown Civic Center for Game 6 of their second round series against Moncton with my future wife and a small group of friends. One of the topics of conversation on the way over was would the Red Sox finally win a World Series that year (they have since won two). The main topic on the way back home was how the Cats would contain Sidney Crosby and Rimouski in round three (the answer was Ryan Salvis). The date was April 12th, 2004. When James Sanford scored on Jonathan Boutin 8:23 into OT, it marked the last moment to date in which the PEI Rocket were a participant in the second round of the QMJHL playoffs.
I feel that will change in a couple weeks' time.
These two teams are remarkably similar in many ways. They can both provide flash and dash offensively, led by offensive catalysts on either side (PEI has scoring leader Ben Duffy and Josh Currie, Val d'Or has 50 goal man Anthony Mantha and Anton Zlobin). They can bang bodies (Dunn, Henley, Poudrier, Gelinas, meet Oligny, Vance, Graves) and they have solid if unspectacular netminders in Antoine Bibeau and Francois Tremblay. I give PEI the edge based on coaching (I'm a big fan of Gordie Dwyer and his systems) and a stronger overall commitment to defense. However, it's not a huge stretch.
Prediction - PEI in 7
Val d'Or could win if... They score one more goal, pretty much. This has all the makings of a tight, hard fought affair. Get PEI in the box and Mantha, Zlobin and Brandon Hynes could turn the offensive zone into their own personal playground. Val d'Or has a roster full of guys usually referred to as "character players" This is code for "pain in the posterior region to play against". As the season wound down, I came to the conclusion that PEI could make life tough for any team in the league not located in Halifax (of course, that could be because I've been well versed in the Rocket's ability to consistently hand the Wildcats their lunch thus leaving me overly impressed, but I digress). However, of all teams for them to draw in round one, the Foreurs might be the most challenging - if only because Val d'Or is probably the team most capable of beating PEI at their own game. This could very well be the most entertaining series of the first round.
#8 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (84) vs. #9 Drummondville Voltigeurs (80)
The Huskies find themselves in a position to realistically win their first playoff series since 2008. They are a pesky little team that likes to play wide open, as their second ranked offense and 12th ranked defense can attest. At times I'm sure Andre Tourigny feels like he's aged five years while trying to get results out of such a run and gun outfit, but the Huskies came out of the season with 40 wins in their back pocket - certainly a fair consolation for playing an oft-criticized style. The Huskies boast five players with 29 or more goals and the league's leading scorer among blueliners in Mathieu Brisebois. Defense is supposed to win games - especially in the playoffs - but in this case, there's just too much offense on the side of Rouyn-Noranda for Drummondville to keep pace.
Prediction - Rouyn-Noranda in 6
Drummondville could win if... The Huskies defense and goaltending let them. From the blueline back, the Volts have a clear advantage. In fact, they even have a pretty decent reply to the offense of Brisebois in Nikolas Brouillard and Jordan Murray. Up front, there aren't any big name guys, but there are some pesky ones. A guy like Jerome Verrier is the epitome of frustrating. He'll score a goal (which he did 35 times this year) and take a psychological advantage from you at the same time. Guys like Verrier, Jeremie Malouin, and Matthew Boudens are simply not fun to play against. As quick as the Huskies are, if you bottle up their speed, they become alot less impressive. In nets, rookie Louis-Phillipe Guindon quietly put together an impressive season and as a result, holds the upper hand among netminders between both clubs entering the series. If Mario Duhamel's troops can stay patient, retain that netminding advantage, keep the Huskies to the outside and start getting them well acquainted with the boards, Drummondville could very well find themselves in round two.
Oh and I stopped playing proline years ago because I never won anything. So keep that in mind after reading all this.
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