The final four are finally determined in the QMJHL. This year's playoffs lived up to their unpredictable billing, providing fans with some surprises, and long overtimes, en route to the semi-finals. Sportsnet.ca previews both matchups, outlining each team's strengths and the key matchup within the game that could determine the winner of the series.

Semi-final 1

Drummondville Voltigeurs vs. Rimouski Océanic

Drummondville regular season record: 54-10-0-4 (112 points)

Rimouski regular season record: 44-23-1-0 (89 points)

Regular season series: Drummondville 2-0-0-1

Drummondville league championships: None

Rimouski regular season championships: Two (2000 and 2005)

The regular-season series is a good measuring stick for how they matchup against each other since all three games were after the Christmas break. The Voltigeurs were a solid team all season whereas the Océanic turned into a threat in the second-half. Drummondville's 18-game winning streak through November and December was a league-high and fourth best in league history. The Voltigeurs made sure their accomplishment wasn't beat this season, stopping the Océanic's 17-game winning-streak with a 5-4 win on March 8.

These two franchises have never met in the post-season. The Océanic are a team that aren't afraid of rebuilding in the hopes of acquiring top talent at the draft, as they did with Sidney Crosby in 2003. Rimouski has been able to turn their fortunes around from one season to the next but no one did that better than this year's version of the Voltigeurs. Drummondville enjoyed a 79-point turnaround this season, emphatically going from worst to first in just one season.

The Voltigeurs are as deep a team offensively among the remaining four in the QMJHL. Drummondville has the ability to score in bunches and they did not hesitate displaying their balanced offensive attack in the first two rounds. The Voltigeurs outscored their first two opponents, Lewiston and Montreal, by a combined 60-17 through two sweeps. Yannick Riendeau scored 15 game-winners in the regular season, second best in league history.

In addition to Riendeau, the Voltigeurs are led by a cast including Dany Massé, Mike Hoffman and Christopher DiDomenico. Meanwhile, defenceman Dmitry Kulikov chipped in with 14 points in the opening two rounds. Kulikov, a potential top 10 pick in this summer's NHL draft, is a very reliable two-way defenceman with tremendous offensive vision. Goaltender Marco Cousineau, acquired from Baie-Comeau earlier this year, remains relatively untested in the playoffs to this point.

Any questions over the legitimacy of the Rimouski Océanic's late-season surge were answered by their surprising five-game series win over the Moncton Wildcats. While the series was much closer than the results would indicate, it is a true indication of just how strong the Océanic have become. Rimouski plays a solid, team-foundation game and has the wherewithal to capitalize on their chances.

The offensive depth in Rimouski is just as impressive as that of the Voltigeurs. Keven Veilleux was one of the hottest players ending the regular season and playoffs after his coach, Clément Jodoin, presented him with an ultimatum: score or watch from the bench. Logan MacMillan, a first round pick of the Anaheim Ducks, was acquired from Halifax for his combination of grit and skill while world junior gold-medalist Patrice Cormier provides much the same. The defensive corps is very strong in terms of handling the puck and leading the rush while goaltender Maxim Gougeon shone in the first two rounds.

Key matchup: Guy Boucher (Drummondville) vs. Clément Jodoin (Rimouski)

Two of the league's finest coaches will present this series with an intriguing twist. Boucher is a player's coach whose strong systems are interchangeable from period-to-period, and sometimes from shift-to-shift. His team is strong on the puck and the Voltigeurs believe in the team-first concept as each player is willing to sacrifice for the team.

Jodoin, meanwhile, is the ultimate motivator. His coaching style gives his team the opportunity to compete against the league's best as his preparation is top-notch. While systematic hockey is not the most closely watched by fans, this series will feature an interesting subplot in how each team prepares and adjusts to each other. If Boucher's offensive attack can open up the play, it could give the league's top team another chance at earning their way to the Memorial Cup and playing against the host Océanic in May.

Semi-final 2

Québec Remparts vs. Shawinigan Cataractes

Québec regular season record: 49-16-0-3 (101 points)

Shawinigan regular season record: 51-14-3-0 (105 points)

Regular season series: Shawinigan 2-1-0-0

Québec league championships: None in modern history

Shawinigan league championships: None

One could hardly tell these two teams had met just three times this season when the neighbouring rivals met in those games. The Remparts sent five fan buses to Shawinigan for their game on Feb. 27, a thrilling 7-4 win by the Cataractes. The atmosphere was electric as these two non-divisional rivals hold nothing back when facing each other. The Remparts won their final meeting a week later at home, playing a tight-checking style that limited the highly-skilled Cataractes' chances.

The Remparts and Cataractes have met just once in the playoffs since the Remparts' rebirth in 1997. Québec eliminated Shawinigan in five games in the second round of the 2006 playoffs, the last such time Shawinigan had advanced past the opening round. The Remparts went on to win the Memorial Cup in 2006 after losing in the league finals to the host Moncton Wildcats. Shawinigan's championship drought, 39 years since joining the league, is the QMJHL's longest and second only to the Saskatoon Blades' 42-year drought for longest in the Canadian Hockey League.

Québec got a scare from the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the second round of the playoffs, losing the first two games on home ice, including the four-overtime marathon in Game 1. The Remparts showed lots of resolve and moxie by battling back, winning two of three in Cape Breton. Perhaps one of their greatest assets is their ability to adapt and adjust in the face of adversity, a true credit to the preparation of head coach and general manager Patrick Roy.

What makes Québec such a dangerous team is their offence with snipers Dmitri Kugryshev, Mikhail Stefanovich and Kelsey Tessier. The Remparts have a load of depth up front but the true calming influence of the team is first-year starting goaltender Charles Lavigne. Acquired in a trade with the Moncton Wildcats in the off-season, the overage goaltender was as good as advertised, providing Québec with the solid backbone of a championship-contending team. His back-to-back shutouts over Cape Breton in the final two games prove his mettle as a big-game goaltender.

Despite finishing with more points than the Remparts, the Cataractes will not have home ice in this series. The QMJHL's playoff scenario awards the top four spots to each division winner, meaning the Cataractes then took the fifth seed despite having the second-best record behind Drummondville. Shawinigan hasn't let that slow them down after sweeping Victoriaville in the first round before knocking out the defending champs, the Gatineau Olympiques, in the second round.

A lot of Shawinigan's success comes from their power play, which operated at 31.4 per cent in the regular season and 34.4 per cent in the playoffs. Much like their opponents, the Cataractes can score from virtually any line with players such as Cédric Lalonde-McNicoll, Matthew Pistilli and Nicholas Petersen. Shawinigan boasts an active defensive core with newcomer Alex Grant providing a booming point shot. As much as their offence is able to expose the opposition and strive in a wide-open style, the true measure of success is goaltender Timo Pielmeier.

Key matchup: Charles Lavigne (Quebec) vs. Timo Pielmeier (Shawinigan)

While both teams have the ability to succeed when trading chances in a wide-open game, this series likely won't feature many goals. Both goalies gave their team the confidence to take chances with their steady and reliable play this season. Lavigne is strong with his positioning and allows very few rebounds but is also a very heady goaltender who likes to play the puck and give his team quick transitions.

Pielmeier was a true steal for the Cataractes in the off-season. With two No. 1 goaltenders in Montreal, the Juniors needed to make room for Jake Allen by trading Pielmeier. The German goaltender wanted the starting job and has not disappointed in Shawinigan. A lot of Shawinigan's success lies on Pielmeier's shoulders. Both goaltenders have the ability to steal games for their team and will need to in this series of equally talented teams.