QMJHL Weekend Preview

March 17, 2011 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Lewiston MAINEiacs News Release


Lewiston, ME (QMJHL) - Only two games remain on the regular season schedule for the 2010-11 Lewiston MAINEiacs, and both of those games take place on the road this weekend. After a tough weekend at home last week, the MAINEiacs will look to continue their recent road success that saw them pick up five out of six points in Halifax and Charlottetown two weeks ago. This weekend, Lewiston's opponents are Baie-Comeau and Chicoutimi.

The MAINEiacs and Drakkar saw each other a lot at the beginning of the season, playing five of their six head-to-head meetings prior to the holidays. Despite being in 17th place overall, Baie-Comeau has given Lewiston a challenge this season, as four of the five games have been decided in the third period or overtime. The MAINEiacs started by sweeping a two-game weekend series at Centre Henry Leonard in October, winning 3-1 and 5-2, after both games entered the third period knotted at one. In November, the Drakkar made their way to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee, where they were swept 6-1 and 3-2 in overtime. In Lewiston's overtime win, Zach Evans-Renaud tied the score with 49 seconds remaining, before Etienne Brodeur won it on a breakaway in the extra session. The most recent tilt between the two clubs took place at Lewiston in December, as visiting Baie-Comeau escaped on top, 5-4.

The MAINEiacs and Sagueneens are also playing their sixth head-to-head match this season, and so far, that season series has been dominated by the home teams. Lewiston earned 3-1, 7-4, and 5-2 victories at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in October, November, and January, while Chicoutimi picked up 5-4 (shootout) and 3-0 wins at Centre Georges Vezina in September and February.

Lewiston enters the weekend with a record of 38-24-1-3 (80 points), which puts them in eighth place overall. In order to move up to seventh, the MAINEiacs would need a pair of wins, along with two losses by Shawinigan (who plays against Val-d'Or and Rouyn-Noranda). As for the opposition, Baie-Comeau is locked into 17th place overall, missing the playoffs for the second year in a row. Meanwhile, Chicoutimi is in 12th place overall, leading Rimouski by two points. However, the Oceanic have one game in hand, as well as the tie-breaker.

Who's Hot for the MAINEiacs

15-F-Sam Henley (has at least 1 point in each of his last 4 games)

55-D-Sam Carrier (has at least 1 point in 5 of his last 6 games)

44-D-Olivier Dame-Malka (has at least 1 point in 5 of his last 7 games)

23-F-Etienne Brodeur (has at least 1 point in 4 of his last 5 games)

Learning the Opposition (Friday)

Baie-Comeau Drakkar

Established in 1997

0 President's Cups

Notable Alumni: Francois Bouchard, Jean-Francois Jacques, Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, Joel Perrault, Bruno St. Jacques

NHL Draft Picks

None

Who to Watch for

17-F-Lukas Cingel (17 goals, 31 assists, 48 points in 66 games)

28-F-Raphael Bussieres (17 goals, 22 assists, 39 points in 65 games)

7-D-Hugo Laporte (9 goals, 27 assists, 36 points in 61 games)

12-F-Alexandre Durette (21 goals, 9 assists, 30 points in 65 games)

20-D-Maxim Lamarche (4 goals, 24 assists, 28 points in 65 games)

35-G-Jason Missiaen (10-32-7 record, 3.28 GAA, .894 Sv%, 1 shutout in 51 games)

Learning the Opposition (Sunday)

Chicoutimi Sagueneens

Established in 1973

2 President's Cups (1991, 1994)

Notable Alumni: Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Marc Denis, David Desharnais, Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers, Felix Potvin

NHL Draft Picks

None

Who to Watch for

38-F-Guillaume Asselin (35 goals, 46 assists, 81 points in 64 games)

10-F-Charles Hudon (22 goals, 36 assists, 58 points in 61 games)

19-F-Alexandre Lavoie (24 goals, 29 assists, 53 points in 60 games)

24-D-Nicolas Therrien (12 goals, 32 assists, 44 points in 66 games)

15-F-Jonathan Bonneau (22 goals, 19 assists, 41 points in 61 games)

37-G-Christopher Gibson (14-13-8 record, 2.33 GAA, .922 Sv%, 4 shutouts in 35 games)

Special Teams

Lewiston Power Play: 49-for-281 (17.4%), 13th

Baie-Comeau Power Play: 35-for-272 (12.9%), 18th

Chicoutimi Power Play: 48-for-292 (16.4%), 15th

Lewiston Penalty Kill: 278-for-347 (80.1%), 7th

Baie-Comeau Penalty Kill: 215-for-282 (76.2%), 14th

Chicoutimi Penalty Kill: 174-for-220 (79.1%), 10th

Season Series

Lewiston 4, Baie-Comeau 1

Lewiston 3, Chicoutimi 2

All-Time Series

Lewiston 24, Baie-Comeau 12

Chicoutimi 17, Lewiston 16, 1 tie

All-Time Series on the Road

Lewiston 10, Baie-Comeau 7

Chicoutimi 11, Lewiston 4, 1 tie

This Weekend in the QMJHL

The Saint John Sea Dogs have guaranteed themselves of a first place finish in the QMJHL, and the only question that remains is whether or not they will tie the league record for most wins in a season (58). In order to that, they would need to beat Cape Breton on Friday and PEI on Sunday. Both games will take place at Harbour Station.

Three teams still have a shot at second place overall - the Montreal Junior, the Quebec Remparts, and the Drummondville Voltigeurs. With one game in hand, Montreal can secure their position with a win on Thursday, when they host Rimouski. If they are unable to get the job done in that game, the Junior will have to take care of business on the road in either Victoriaville on Friday or in Gatineau on Sunday.

Quebec has clinched their division, meaning that they will either finish in second or third. The Remparts will have the opposite schedule as the MAINEiacs, visiting Chicoutimi on Friday and Baie-Comeau on Sunday.

Drummondville will need to win both of their games, while also getting some help, or else they will finish in fourth. Luckily for the Voltigeurs, they will be facing Rouyn-Noranda and Val-d'Or, so their path into the playoffs should be slightly more smooth.

The Gatineau Olympiques' magic number to clinch sole possession of fifth place is two points, and as luck would have it, the Olympiques will be playing both of their games in the comforts of Centre Robert Guertin this weekend. Gatineau welcomes Rimouski to town on Friday, before playing host to Montreal on Sunday.

The Acadie-Bathurst Titan need one point to guarantee a finish that is no lower than sixth place overall. The Titan will have to do their work away from home this weekend, as they travel to Halifax on Friday and Moncton on Sunday.

The Shawinigan Cataractes have a simple task this weekend, needing two points to finish in seventh place. Despite being on the road, Shawinigan's weekend itinerary features Val-d'Or and Rouyn-Noranda.

The Moncton Wildcats earned a 4-3 comeback win on Wednesday in Halifax, and are now in control of their own destiny. If Moncton wins out, they will finish in ninth place overall. The Wildcats will play both of their games at home this weekend, battling PEI on Friday and Acadie-Bathurst on Sunday.

The Victoriaville Tigres are in tenth place overall, stuck in the middle of Moncton (who they trail by two) and PEI (who they lead by one). The Tigres have a pair of tricky opponents this weekend, but both games will be played at Colisee Desjardins, as Montreal and Rimouski serve as the visiting clubs.

The PEI Rocket have won seven of their last ten games to stay in the race, currently sitting in 11th place. PEI's battle for positioning this weekend begins with a big match-up in Moncton on Friday, before what could either be a meaningful or meaningless game in Saint John on Sunday.

The Chicoutimi Sagueneens and Rimouski Oceanic are neck in neck with two games to go for 12th place in the overall standings. Chicoutimi currently leads Rimouski by two points, but the Oceanic have one game in hand, as well as the tie-breaker. Rimouski could tie things up with a win on Thursday, when they host Montreal, which would set up an intriguing weekend for both squads. Following that contest, the Oceanic will head out on the road to face Gatineau and Victoriaville, while the Sagueneens will be home, as Quebec and Lewiston visit Centre Georges Vezina.

Val-d'Or, Halifax, Cape Breton, Baie-Comeau, and Rouyn-Noranda have all secured their spots, finishing 14th through 18th in that order. To finish the regular season, Val-d'Or and Rouyn-Noranda will both play host to Drummondville and Shawinigan. Baie-Comeau will be at home to collide with Lewiston and Quebec. On Friday, Cape Breton heads to Saint John, while Halifax hosts Acadie-Bathurst, before the two meet for the final Battle of Nova Scotia at the Halifax Metro Centre on Sunday afternoon.



Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2011


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