The eight points separating the Saint John Sea Dogs and the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles is the narrowest margin of the four match-ups in the second round. It comes as no surprise to see the series tied at one a piece and a Game 2 that took extra time to settle the score. This Maritimes Division showdown has all the making of a long and entertaining series.
Cape Breton took Game 1 thanks to a hat-trick from Michael Joly. He’s averaging a goal per game and has two game-winners this playoffs. The past three seasons, he’s become Mr. Clutch in the playoffs, amping up his goal scoring and adding big goals (none bigger than the overtime, Game-7 winner in the President Cup final last year while with Rimouski.)
The table below looks at Joly’s production in the regular season and playoffs the past three seasons. It doesn’t include his rookie campaign, when he was pointless in six post-season games.
| Season | GP | G | G/GP | GWG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reg. 2013-14 | 64 | 44 | 0.688 | 5 |
| Plfs 2014 | 10 | 9 | 0.900 | 3 |
| Reg. 2014-15 | 45 | 26 | 0.578 | 2 |
| Plfs 2015 | 20 | 12 | 0.600 | 3 |
| Reg. 2015-16 | 60 | 47 | 0.783 | 9 |
| Plfs 2016 | 8 | 8 | 1.000 | 2 |
On the Saint John side, we’re getting a taste of why Joseph Veleno is a special talent. The first player in the ‘Q’ granted exceptional player status had the biggest goal of his young career in Game 2. His third-period tally tied the game 2-2 and he scored in overtime to even the series. It was Valeno’s first multi-goal game.
One word that always comes up when talking to teammates regarding Veleno, Sea Dogs management and scouts is maturity. Considering he just turned 16 on January 13—yes, he was born in 2000—he hasn’t looked out of place in the QMJHL and he’s stepping up his game when it matters most.
Jeff Marek hosts Sportsnet’s weekly CHL podcast, a one-stop shop for news, analysis, opinion and interviews covering the WHL, OHL and QMJHL.
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Juggernauts even after two games
Shawinigan managed to chase Mason McDonald from the Charlottetown net after jumping out to a 4-0 lead in Game 1. McDonald bounced back the next game with a 37-save performance in a 3-2 win. There’s a lot of firepower on both sides so the goaltending duel of Philippe Cadorette and McDonald could be the deciding point in this series.
After scoring 40 goals in 47 games in the regular season, Anthony Beauvillier has cooled off. He’s pointless through both games and has a minus-3 rating. The New York Islanders first-rounder fired 10 shots in Game 2—four of them dangerous shots—but was unable to generate any points. If he can break out and return to his regular-season scoring pace, Shawinigan will have a better chance of winning. Beauvillier had similar stats last season, scoring 42 regular-season goals but only two in seven playoff games.
Beauvillier’s 1.68 points-per-game average was third in the QMJHL this season. (Photo courtesy QMJHL)
Cinderella steals Game 1
The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada showed they have at least one more trick up their sleeves with a Game 1 shutout of the first-place Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Despite being outshot 29-19, out-hit 30-26 and dominated in the face-off circle 45-27, the Armada came out on top. This is the same team that finished 51 points behind the Huskies in the regular season and scored 131 fewer goals.
Avoiding further embarrassment, the Huskies responded with a decisive 5-0 win in Game 2. After five games, Chase Marchand has a microscopic GAA of 0.43 and save percentage of 0.980. Before the series started, Marchand was awarded the Jacques Plante award for goalie of the year in the ‘Q’.
Karabacek haunts former team
The Gatineau Olympiques may be a playoff beast, but it was the scrappy Moncton Wildcats who came out on top in Game 1 with a 3-1 win. Buffalo Sabres property Vaclav Karabacek scored the game-winning goal in the third period against the team that originally drafted him 18th overall in the 2013 CHL Import draft. After scoring 21 goals as a rookie with Gatineau, Karabacek has failed to crack the 20-goal mark in his past three seasons.
The Olympiques bounced back in Game 2 with a 3-0 win. Rookie goalie Mathieu Bellemare had a 26-save shutout, his second in five games. GAtineau acquired Bellemare from Shawinigan for a fourth-round pick in 2017 in what looked like an inconsequential depth move at the time. Nicolas Meloche missed the game with a suspension after a hit to the head of Conor Garland.
Game 1 was costly for Gatineau. They lost Yakov Trenin with a broken wrist after he was demolished by Zachary Malatesta. Unless Gatineau makes the league final and the injury heals quickly, it looks like Trenin’s season is done. The Nashville Predators second-rounder only had two points in the post-season but is one of the team’s best players.
Yakov Trenin ROCKED by Zachary Malatesta. Brutal suicide pass by Gatineau defenseman. #GATvsMON #QMJHL pic.twitter.com/58Q2gi6ZaM
— Jonathan Dunphy (@Jonathan_Dunphy) April 9, 2016
Non-playoff news
The Victoriaville Tigres fired head coach Bruce Richardson Monday morning. No replacement has been named yet, although rumours suggest Martin Raymond is a prime candidate. Raymond was fired by Drummondville earlier this season but was an assistant for Canada at the world juniors. Victoriaville joins Baie-Comeau, Shawinigan, Drummondville and Sherbrooke in a list of teams that have fired head coaches since the season began.
J'évoque un nom comme ça pour les Tigres : je ne serais pas surpris que Martin Raymond soit son remplaçant. On verra. #tvasports
— Mikaël Lalancette (@MLalancetteTVA) April 11, 2016
Although Nicolas Roy’s Chicoutimi Saguenéens bowed out of the playoffs in Round 1, it was a memorable week for the 19-year-old. First, the team confirmed he’ll be the captain of the club next season. Secondly, the 96th-overall pick of last year’s NHL draft signed an entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Speaking of @NHLCanes property, Nicolas Roy has been named Chicoutimi's new captain.
— Patrick McNeil (@CBSE_pbp) April 7, 2016