Post by reesor on Apr 29, 2013 7:54:11 GMT -4
A finals preview for you folks.
Finals Preview
It's the matchup we all didn't want, but secretly wanted. MacKinnon's current team faces MacKinnon's original team in the Q finals. From brawls to an epic playoff series, Halifax and Baie-Comeau have one of the best "Maritime team vs Quebec team" rivalries in the QMJHL. And with the MacKinnon saga front and center, this has the makings of being one of the more exciting Q finals in a few years. I'm sure if the Centre Henry-Leonard in Baie-Comeau had 6000 seats instead of 3042, it would still sell out for this series.
Regular Season Stats:
Halifax: 58-6-3-1 120 Pts (1st in Maritimes Division, 1st Overall)
Baie-Comeau: 44-19-2-3 93 Pts (1st in Telus East Division, 2nd Overall)
Season Series: Halifax 2-0
2012-11-21: Baie-Comeau 2 @ Halifax 6
2013-02-01: Halifax 3 @ Baie-Comeau 1
Top Scorers:
Halifax: Jonathan Drouin (49GP 41G 64A 105Pts), Marty Frk (56GP 39G 45A 84Pts), Darcy Ashley (66GP 26G 52A 78Pts)
Baie-Comeau: Petr Straka (55GP 41G 41A 82Pts), Valentin Zykov (67GP 40G 35A 75Pts), Raphael Bussieres (60GP 29G 39A 68Pts)
Halifax Team Stats:
GF/Game: 5.10 (1st)
GA/Game: 2.59 (1st)
PP: 27.7% (2nd)
PK: 81.5% (4th)
Baie-Comeau Team Stats:
GF/Game: 4.03 (T3rd)
GA/Game: 2.81 (3rd)
PP: 21.5% (11th)
PK: 82.0% (3rd)
Goalies:
Zach Fucale:
Wins: 45 (1st)
SO: 2 (T7th)
GAA: 2.35 (2nd)
Sv%: .909 (T3rd)
Phillipe Cadorette:
Wins: 29 (4th)
SO: 2 (T7th)
GAA: 2.74 (T4th)
Sv%: .892 (T15th)
Baie-Comeau Game Plan:
There is going to be a lot of emotion in this series. The Drakkar simply cannot let their emotions get the best of them and start taking penalties. They are well coached, so they should at least be prepared going into game 1. They have Felix Girard, who is extremely good defensively (63.8% faceoff win % in the regular season). His line should be out against MacKinnon, Drouin and co every chance they get.
They have to pressure Halifax's D, as we saw against the Huskies that they are prone to the occasional turnover. But Halifax's transition game is the best in the league, and if they press too much, they will be burned on odd-man rushes.
Halifax Game Plan:
Just like Baie-Comeau, they have to manage their emotions. The Drakkar's power-play was average in the regular season, and is only runing at 22.4% in the playoffs. But the Drakkar are a great team, and great teams find a way to raise their level of play. Halifax has to avoid taking penalties, as it won't be nearly as easy to pot another goal if we give up one. MacKinnon/Drouin will be shadowed in this series. They've done a great job getting away from tight-checking so far. But again, the Drakkar will be great defensively. We have to remain focused and not let them get us off our game.
Obviously we can't afford to give up the chances we gave up against the Huskies, as we won't score 9 goals against Baie-Comeau.
Right now we have 2 lines scoring. My fear is that if MacKinnon/Drouin go through a tough spell, the goal scoring will dry up. Ciampini/Boudreau/Ashley have been playing ok in the last couple games, so if they continue to work hard and get chances, eventually goals will start going in. They cannot afford to get frustrated, as they at least have to be solid defensively if the goals aren't going in.
My Take:
I was pretty shocked when Halifax swept the Huskies. Mind you 2 games went to OT and one was a 2-goal game with an empty netter. But Halifax has raised its level of play in every series, and I expect them to do the same here. Of course I expect Baie-Comeau to do the same. The team that keeps their emotions in check and sticks to their game will have success in this series. Ducharme and co have done an outstanding job preparing the boys for whatever they've had to face this season, so I'm confident they'll be prepared for Baie-Comeau. No team in CHL history has ever gone 16-0 in the playoffs. Since Halifax is playing the 2nd best team in the league, I really can't see it happening here. Even with Baie-Comeau's depth and good defensive structure, I don't see them shutting down all 4 of Halifax's lines for 4 of 7 games. But I can see it being a close series. Maybe even a few OT games again. As much as I would like to see Halifax win at home, I think they'll win it in Baie-Comeau. Halifax in 6.
Go MOOSE!!!!
Finals Preview
It's the matchup we all didn't want, but secretly wanted. MacKinnon's current team faces MacKinnon's original team in the Q finals. From brawls to an epic playoff series, Halifax and Baie-Comeau have one of the best "Maritime team vs Quebec team" rivalries in the QMJHL. And with the MacKinnon saga front and center, this has the makings of being one of the more exciting Q finals in a few years. I'm sure if the Centre Henry-Leonard in Baie-Comeau had 6000 seats instead of 3042, it would still sell out for this series.
Regular Season Stats:
Halifax: 58-6-3-1 120 Pts (1st in Maritimes Division, 1st Overall)
Baie-Comeau: 44-19-2-3 93 Pts (1st in Telus East Division, 2nd Overall)
Season Series: Halifax 2-0
2012-11-21: Baie-Comeau 2 @ Halifax 6
2013-02-01: Halifax 3 @ Baie-Comeau 1
Top Scorers:
Halifax: Jonathan Drouin (49GP 41G 64A 105Pts), Marty Frk (56GP 39G 45A 84Pts), Darcy Ashley (66GP 26G 52A 78Pts)
Baie-Comeau: Petr Straka (55GP 41G 41A 82Pts), Valentin Zykov (67GP 40G 35A 75Pts), Raphael Bussieres (60GP 29G 39A 68Pts)
Halifax Team Stats:
GF/Game: 5.10 (1st)
GA/Game: 2.59 (1st)
PP: 27.7% (2nd)
PK: 81.5% (4th)
Baie-Comeau Team Stats:
GF/Game: 4.03 (T3rd)
GA/Game: 2.81 (3rd)
PP: 21.5% (11th)
PK: 82.0% (3rd)
Goalies:
Zach Fucale:
Wins: 45 (1st)
SO: 2 (T7th)
GAA: 2.35 (2nd)
Sv%: .909 (T3rd)
Phillipe Cadorette:
Wins: 29 (4th)
SO: 2 (T7th)
GAA: 2.74 (T4th)
Sv%: .892 (T15th)
Baie-Comeau Game Plan:
There is going to be a lot of emotion in this series. The Drakkar simply cannot let their emotions get the best of them and start taking penalties. They are well coached, so they should at least be prepared going into game 1. They have Felix Girard, who is extremely good defensively (63.8% faceoff win % in the regular season). His line should be out against MacKinnon, Drouin and co every chance they get.
They have to pressure Halifax's D, as we saw against the Huskies that they are prone to the occasional turnover. But Halifax's transition game is the best in the league, and if they press too much, they will be burned on odd-man rushes.
Halifax Game Plan:
Just like Baie-Comeau, they have to manage their emotions. The Drakkar's power-play was average in the regular season, and is only runing at 22.4% in the playoffs. But the Drakkar are a great team, and great teams find a way to raise their level of play. Halifax has to avoid taking penalties, as it won't be nearly as easy to pot another goal if we give up one. MacKinnon/Drouin will be shadowed in this series. They've done a great job getting away from tight-checking so far. But again, the Drakkar will be great defensively. We have to remain focused and not let them get us off our game.
Obviously we can't afford to give up the chances we gave up against the Huskies, as we won't score 9 goals against Baie-Comeau.
Right now we have 2 lines scoring. My fear is that if MacKinnon/Drouin go through a tough spell, the goal scoring will dry up. Ciampini/Boudreau/Ashley have been playing ok in the last couple games, so if they continue to work hard and get chances, eventually goals will start going in. They cannot afford to get frustrated, as they at least have to be solid defensively if the goals aren't going in.
My Take:
I was pretty shocked when Halifax swept the Huskies. Mind you 2 games went to OT and one was a 2-goal game with an empty netter. But Halifax has raised its level of play in every series, and I expect them to do the same here. Of course I expect Baie-Comeau to do the same. The team that keeps their emotions in check and sticks to their game will have success in this series. Ducharme and co have done an outstanding job preparing the boys for whatever they've had to face this season, so I'm confident they'll be prepared for Baie-Comeau. No team in CHL history has ever gone 16-0 in the playoffs. Since Halifax is playing the 2nd best team in the league, I really can't see it happening here. Even with Baie-Comeau's depth and good defensive structure, I don't see them shutting down all 4 of Halifax's lines for 4 of 7 games. But I can see it being a close series. Maybe even a few OT games again. As much as I would like to see Halifax win at home, I think they'll win it in Baie-Comeau. Halifax in 6.
Go MOOSE!!!!
