Playoff time makes for some good quotes, but Rimouski head coach Serge Beausoleil and Gatineau bench boss Benoit Groulx took it to new heights recently.
Beausoleil, who appears as somewhat of a Guy Boucher disciple, went on the defensive before his team’s series started with the 13th ranked Gatineau Olympiques by anointing Groulx’s group the favourite. Rimouski finished with the third-most points this season, and 28 more than Gatineau, yet because of several key injuries, Beausoleil surprisingly labeled his team the underdog.
When the puck dropped for Game 1 of the series on Friday, four of the five players Beausoleil projected would be out of the lineup with injuries all played; those being Francis Beauvillier, Casey Babineau, Samuel Morin and Maxim Gravel.
Groulx saw through the ploy, and delivered what may be the best one-liner this season in speaking to Le Droit beat reporter Jean-Francois Plante, saying, "Serge Beausoleil, there’s two things he really likes doing. Talking and buying the paper to read it the next day."
The Oceanic overcame the adversity to win Game 1 3-2 and a day later, the Olympiques tied the series at one with a 5-3 win. Maybe there was something to it, after all.
HOSTS OFF TO A STUNNING START
There was an awful lot of knee-knocking prior to last year’s MasterCard Memorial Cup after the host Shawinigan Cataractes were bounced in the second round of the playoffs. The Cataractes wound up winning the national championship, and those whispers about the validity of their team hosting subsided.
Those same questions about the strength of the MasterCard Memorial Cup host team are intensifying. The Saskatoon Blades have run hot and cold all season and their temperature now is as frigid as a Saskatchewan winter. The Blades lost Games 1 and 2 against the No. 7 seed Medicine Hat Tigers over the weekend, which now gives this team a streak of 10-straight playoff losses dating back the past three seasons.
Saskatoon scored just once in the two games and is clearly in must-win territory to avoid the virtual kiss of death of falling behind 3-0. Forward Lukas Sutter tried taking a positive out of a negative.
YANICK JEAN SOUNDS OFF
The beauty of a 1-versus-16 playoff round in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is that Quebec-based teams and Maritimes-based teams can meet in the opening round. That sentiment may not be shared by Victoriaville Tigres head coach Yanick Jean, however.
After winning Game 1 in Moncton on Friday, his team dropped Game 2 to the favoured Wildcats in overtime on a power-play goal by former Tigres captain, Phillip Danault. Jean was remarkably candid in his post-game interview suggesting the Wildcats were flopping in search of a call, and the Maritimes-based officials were buying it.
"I can’t wait to return to Quebec [for games 3, 4 and 5] because at least in Quebec, diving is called and we know that for sure. Here, it’s not the same refereeing. We didn’t have the same spark as yesterday, maybe not the same energy. Still, if you get two or three [penalties] less if the referees called the diving, it’s not the same game. The difference in the refereeing will have a huge impact."
HAIR-RAISING PLAYOFF STYLES
A year ago, while speaking with Niagara forward Tom Kuhnhackl after a game, teammate Mitchell Theoret walked by and changed the complexion of our conversation. Theoret’s playoff hairstyle was unique, and redirected conversation with Kuhnhackl immediately. I asked Kuhnhackl why he didn’t follow his teammate’s lead and he responded with a stunned look and two words: "Come on!"
Theoret shaved the top of his head, minus the bangs, which were dyed pink. It’s no wonder it didn’t catch on. Here’s a pic he tweeted from an interview with our Rob Faulds:
@snpatrickking here it is. @snfaulds twitter.com/Theoret23/stat…
— Mitchell Theoret (@Theoret23) March 21, 2013
Well, the playoffs are here again and the now the Barrie Colts forward took it up a notch.
The playoffs are here! twitter.com/Theoret23/stat…
— Mitchell Theoret (@Theoret23) March 21, 2013
– The Windsor Spitfires haven’t a hope in landing the hosting rights to next year’s MasterCard Memorial Cup, writes the Windsor Star’s Bob Duff:
– Edmonton Oil Kings forward Stephane Legault enjoyed a seven-point night in his team’s series opener against Kootenay on Friday. It put him tied for second in points in one playoff game while his first-period hat trick also tied a record.
Stephane Legault, with 7 points, including a natural hat-trick, is one point from #WHL single-game playoff points total. #EdmOilKings
— John MacKinnon (@rjmackinnon) March 23, 2013
– Among the more shocking developments from the weekend was the opening game loss by the Portland Winterhawks. They finished first-overall in the regular season, and appeared to be biding their time until the playoffs.
Time for Playoffs! #finally
— Seth Jones (@seth_jones3) March 22, 2013
They were stymied time and again by Everett’s NHL draft-eligible goalie Austin Lotz, which was less concerning than their effort.
No intensity from Portland down the stretch. This is absurd. Rutkowski solid but not vocal at all. Jones doesn’t care. Rattie frustrated.
— TJ Wharry (@twharry) March 23, 2013
– Playoff hockey means sacrifice, which isn’t always pretty:
Playoff hockey #hughsey twitter.com/Laughts21/stat…
— Scott Laughton (@Laughts21) March 25, 2013
– Although this one came in practice before the post-season:
Sorry if I gross anyone out. But this is what a puck to the teeth looks like. #toughday instagr.am/p/WzuxOFs12F/
— MacKenzie Johnston (@MJohnston93) March 13, 2013
– It may not have the same ring as #FreeGardiner, but Owen Sound Attack fans are suggesting something similar:
@ohlhockey @paivatheway @puppywhite15 @attackohl @macker1277 @newsbayshore @tsnbobmckenzie @darrendreger twitter.com/McArthurKevin/…
— Kevin McArthur (@McArthurKevin) March 23, 2013
Cameron Brace will miss Game 2 tonight for Owen Sound #Attack vs #Greyhounds. He is suspended for 5 games for hit on Jared McCann #OHL
— Manny Paiva (@paivatheway) March 23, 2013
As per LAST RT Attack fans not happy with 5 game ban to Brace by the #OHL signs already going up around City to #freebrace
— Manny Paiva (@paivatheway) March 23, 2013
– Nice work here by PEI Rocket equipment manager Andrew Macneill setting the tone for Sunday practice:
All set for Practice… #TeamFirst #AtAllCost #DDD twitter.com/Spiderpeirocke…
— Andrew Macneill (@Spiderpeirocket) March 24, 2013
Junior graduates are keeping close tabs on their former teams in the playoffs:
— William Wrenn (@wwrenn91) March 23, 2013
@seattletbirds one step closer. Next game is huge. Don’t sit back take the play to them. Good luck
— Brendan Witt (@Whitemooseranch) March 24, 2013
Shout out to @rebelshockey with the big playoff win tonight! @pbartosak35 with the big shutty. Good luck the rest of the way guys!
— Darcy Kuemper (@dkuemps35) March 23, 2013
@stinghockey Never back down boys …
— Наиль Якупов (@Nail10_1993) March 23, 2013