Game 7’s Anyone?

Game 7’s Anyone?

Three Game 7’s on one night. That’s pretty incredible if you think about it and we can all assume the QMJHL is loving all the attention that comes along with that. We all know how they got here, all the stats and numbers, but how did they really get here? Saying anything can happen come playoff time is about as cliche as it gets. Nevertheless, the storylines around these series are very intriguing.

Is Serge Beausoleil, Nostradamus, Mark Messier or Ben Crenshaw?

What do Ben Crenshaw, Nostradamus, Mark Messier have in common? Predictions. Beausoleil’s group is only one game away from a reverse sweep of a hockey club that many had in the final four of the circuit in the Huskies, but again that storyline can all change tonight in the friendly, but cramped confines of the Glencoe Arena. Saying the Huskies have home ice advantage is definitely an understatement, but time will tell.

Two days after the Olympiques came through Moncton I called Beausoleil to tell him how impressed I was with his team and how hard they worked. Irregardless of the score that night, Gatineau never gave up. Beausoleil never returned my call and that’s perfectly ok, he didn’t have to, I just wanted him to know that his team didn’t quit!

5 days after the call, Beausoleil let Alexis Loiseau go and returned behind the bench. Serge Beausoleil was made to coach in the playoffs. There has been a lot written and said about Beausoleil over the years about him as a coach, nonetheless, the man can undeniably get the best out of his players when it matters most. Over the years his methodology may have been questioned and often criticized, but what he has done in this series alone is fascinating. Again Game 7’s often times create this massive build up of excitement only to disappoint, but this time around all the eyes will be jumping around from game to game to see what happens tonight. Let’s just say I’m no Nostradamus, and a lot of people say there’s no momentum in a playoff series, but one would think Beausoleil’s group will be ready to handle the pressure and perhaps the Huskies are struggling with their confidence as a group after losing a commanding grasp on the series. Serge Beausoleil’s comments to press after Game 4 was very telling of the mindset that he and the Olymiques have.

Check out the footage here https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1A6QBBY8qW

Beausoleil’s comments and the conviction in which he said them had a Ben Crenshaw feel to them. A few nights later Beausoleil’s enthusiasm, passion and pride for his hockey club was revealed yet again with the group celebrating listening to the Tragically Hip.

Check out that footage here https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AvZzYcD4S/

Which team will be able to handle the pressure and excitement of a Game 7? Gatineau have won three straight “must win” games already can they win their fourth? Can the Huskies regain their composure and structure and turn in a massive effort with everything on the line? Playoff experience is really important. The Huskies have that on their side, and you can bet your arse the Olympiques have found theirs!

A Long Series From the Get Go

Scouts talk. They don’t talk about players projections, obviously that’s a fireable offence, but you can bet your arse they talk about playoff match ups, and they banter quite frequently about what teams they believe will make some noise. Depth charts and styles of play, and coaching philosophies are mentioned within those discussions. When the Quebec Charlottetown series came up, I made the bold statement or perhaps cliched phrase, “beware of the good team that had a crappy season come playoff time.” There’s no question that the Remparts underachieved this season. As for the Islanders you know damn well what you’re going to get from them every time out. This series was going to be a long series from the get go, so it’s no surprise that this one is going seven games. There’s a lot of question marks around this one. As Andrew Ference said on the Bruins Stanley Cup DVD interview, he talked about a Game 6 loss to Tampa after the Flames had a chance to close things out and much that hurt their resolve. The Islanders had everything stacked in their favour last night, Game 6 at home and couldn’t close the deal, so because of the format they do it all over again tonight. Jim Hulton will have his team ready to go, but in my opinion, it comes down to two things.

Can the Islanders D corps handle the pressure meaning can they manage the puck well enough to make plays and can Donald Hickey shut the door in a Game 7 scenario? Listen, I love how Hickey plays, I think he’s a very underrated netminder, but he’s played a shit ton of games coming down the stretch there’s no question he has to be tired especially after last night. Again, it’s not the amount of shots he faced last night it’s his style. He has to come up big tonight if the Isles want any chance to win this series. He’s an ultra athletic netminder who plays the position exceptionally well, and in a back to back scenario he will have to elevate yet again and shut the door. The Isles have some offensive bunch, and I love how they play and their structure, but it’s their execution in some games that get them in trouble. From a Remparts perspective, you went into the oppositions barn for a Game 6 “win or go home” scenario and you won, but now can you do it all over again?

Can the Remparts climb that mountain again, clearly their best players have to be their players and that’s an understatement, but the likes of Morrison, Dagenais have to be massive again, but Eric Veilleux’s group need a monumental effort at both ends from the likes of Doiron, Lebel and Quinn to pull this series out. A lot of people had the Isles winning this one, but again you can’t overlook a good team that underachieved in the regular season, because come playoff time that’s all in the past. Patrick Deniger has to come up big for the Remparts tonight, this one might come down to the team that has enough gas left in the tank and the team that can execute which makes for a wide open game, I think this one is going to have a lot of breakdowns and a lot of goals tonight, which just might favor the Remparts.

Even Steven

The last Game 7 of the night showcases about as even as a matchup as you can get. This series was going to be a coin toss from the get go. Two evenly matched teams, that have some game breakers and some grit which is great to see. As we all know goaltending is paramount, but that couldn’t be more closer to the truth than in this one. As Mathys Fernandez goes the Cataractes will go. As Kyan Labbe goes the Phoenix will go. It’s about as “even steven” as it gets comparing these two. Ubber athletic netiminders that have game breaking qualities. I’ve never been a numbers guy or a goalie guy and have never claimed to be, but if you look at the body of work that these two have turned in over the years it’s pretty incredible. Both well undersized when it comes to the standardization of the position, but they are as big game as it comes. There’s not much wonder why this series has been so closely contested and you don’t need the stat sheet to pinpoint that shit out.

Fernandez: 42 games played, 21-16 record, 2304:19 mins played, 1 shutout, 2.86 GAA, 0.906 SAV%

Labbe: 45 games played, 27-17 record, 3509:36 mins played, 4 shutouts, 2.74 GAA, 0.910 SAV%

Tonight’s game will come down to which team can find a way to balance their nerves and execute, but good luck trying to score. This one is going to be a tight one all the way to the very end and way to hard to predict, but I will say the team that comes on out of this series will be battled tested and could make some more noise.

Wild Eyes and the Goo Goo Dolls

The Moncton Wildcats and their loyal hockey crazed fanbase have been in a holding pattern, and its pretty evident, they’re not the most patient group of people in the world.  From wondering when Round 2 was going to start, or when tickets were going to go on sale, to not knowing who their opponent will be, it’s been a long tough wait for a fanbase that’s about as impatient and as fickle as the Toronto Maple Leafs. They finally got some answers yesterday, but they have the Goo Goo Dolls to thank for that one. It was looking like the Cats might have gone Thursday, Friday or Friday, Sunday for Round 2 if it hadn’t been for a cancellation of the Goo Goo Dolls.

John Rzeznik was diagnosed with pneumonia and has not fully recovered so they wiped out the remaining dates because of it. Pneumonia isn’t something you fool around with. Concert goers loss, Wildcats gain especially at the gate. A Friday, Saturday scenario bodes a lot better than the alternative. The playoff drop off at the Avenir Centre has begun yet again, which is unfortunate given the product on the ice, but it’s Moncton and that always happens. The Wildcats will be watching very intently tonight to see if Gatineau can pull off the unthinkable and come all the way back to defeat the Huskies. The long break from their Round 1 sweep of Saint John to now has no doubt been great, but they haven’t been able to prepare for their Round 2 opponent which you know damn well has probably been weighing pretty heavy on the coaching staff. Moncton love to prepare and their advanced scouting has been on point. Gardiner MacDougall’s nuances, routines or superstitions are very well known, and not being able to prepare for their next opponent or only having two days to do the prep you can bet your arse the Wildcats video will be getting a workout over the next few days.

MacDougall’s mantra has always been around the Wildcats and being concerned with their game not their opponents. The upbeat, up-tempo practices/workouts are the stuff of hockey legend and lore in this region which only adds to his overall intrigue. Gaining access to Wildcats practice at the Avenir Centre is like trying to gain access to a fortified location, it’s near impossible which again only adds more intrigue to what Gardiner and Wildcats do to prepare. The Wildcats will find out who they play tonight, and Val d’Or will also find out which doesn’t give them a shit ton of time either.

Bring on Game 7 well, bring on three Game 7’s that sounds a lot better and after that bring on Round 2.