SN'S FIRST ROUND PREDICTIONS

By Station Nation Staff

It’s time to get down to business in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

After a long grind through a 68-game schedule for each team, the chase for the President’s Cup begins this evening in Montreal as the Juniors host the Halifax Mooseheads at 8:05 pm.

Nothing in the regular season matters anymore. Head-to-head stats, regular season accomplishments, and individual awards are all thrown out the window come playoff team. It’s all about one goal now, and that goal requires a team to win 16 more games.

But only in the QMJHL would a team that barely had 16 wins in the entire regular season make it into the post-season (that means you, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles).

Unlike last year, the playoff format was actually made using common sense. No longer will math equations have to worked out on a sheet of paper just to understand who your team may play in the second round. This year, the best team plays the worst team in the opening round, the No. 2 seeded team plays the No. 15 seed, and so on.

With only two teams missing the playoffs, there are always blowouts in the first round. This year is no different. We can only hope there are at least a few series that provide us with the recommended dose of entertainment value for this time of year.

Yesterday, Saint John Sea Dogs play-by-play man Tim Roszell gave his predictions for the first round on the ‘Inside the Q’ radio show. So today, SN presents our predictions for the first eight series of the 2011 President’s Cup playoffs.

Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (16) vs Saint John Sea Dogs (1)

Thoughts: This series should be blowout city. In the NHL, there are times when the highest seed is knocked off by the lowest seed. But this isn’t the NHL, and none of those first round series featured teams that were separated by 78 points and 40 wins.

The Eagles are hoping for a split at Harbour Station this weekend. The Sea Dogs are 32-0-1-1 at home. Have fun with that.

Bold Prediction: After scoring a handful of goals in the series, Eagles head coach Mario Durocher declares the series a success and believes that his team can compete for and/or the Memorial Cup next season.

Series Prediction: Sea Dogs in four.

Halifax Mooseheads (15) vs Montreal Juniors (2)

Thoughts: Unlike the Screaming Eagles, the Mooseheads’ current rebuild state shows a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. It’s the first time Halifax has made the post-season since the 2007-08 season, so there are sure to be some nerves and excitement among the Mooseheads faithful.

But the Juniors are one of the best teams in the league this season and shouldn’t have a lot of problems in this first round series.

Bold Prediction: Junior fans burn police cars, break store windows, and riot after their team wins the series.

Series Prediction: Juniors in four.

Val-d’Or Foreurs (14) vs Quebec Remparts (3)

Thoughts: Another strong year for the Quebec Remparts has them going into the post-season as one of the strong contenders for a league title. Goaltending has been a bit of a question mark in Quebec City this season. But the Remparts have too much firepower and shouldn’t have any problems disposing the Foreurs.

Bold Prediction: Patrick Roy will get upset about something.

Series Prediction: Remparts in four.

Drummondville Voltigeurs (4) vs Chicoutimi Sagueneens (13)

Thoughts: Every year there is some series involving one of the top four teams that people believe will go six or seven games but ends up being a bust. We’re not falling into that trap this year.

The Volts are a good hockey team once again this season and are led by superstar Sean Couturier. But the team doesn’t have the depth they have had in past years and could struggle in the latter rounds. But in the present, Drummondville should be able to cruise past the Sags.

Bold Prediction: Guy Carbonneau will not change his facial expression the entire series.

Series Prediction: Voltigeurs in four.

Gatineau Olympiques (5) vs Rimouski Oceanic (12)

Thoughts: This series could prove to be entertaing. The Oceanic massively underachieved this season after being ranked to finish ninth in the pre-season BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 Rankings. Rimouski still has a decent line-up and took Saint John to a shootout a few weeks ago. They are probably good enough to steal a game or two in this series.

Gatineau had a tone of injuries this season and are still battling some. But even with adversity, the Olympiques have a line-up that should be skating into the second round.

Bold Prediction: Nothing to say here.

Series Prediction: Olympiques in five.

Acadie-Bathurst Titan (6) vs Victoriaville Tigres (11)

Thoughts: Judging by their celebration after they defeated the Sea Dogs earlier this season, the Tigres have already won a playoff series. But in all seriousness, the Tigres are a not a bad hockey team. They are not as deep as they were last season, but they are still an okay squad.

To steal a line from Stephane Paquette of L’Acadie Nouvelle, the Titan are like a box of chocolates – you never know what you are going to get. If Bathurst can control themselves and play to their potential, they could make quick work of the Tigres. If they start running around and taking penalties, it could be a rough ride.

Bold Prediction: Garrett Clarke will take a penalty. Zach O’Brien will not take a penalty.

Series Prediction: Titan in six.

PEI Rocket (10) vs Shawinigan Cataractes (7)

Thoughts: This is a series that we feel will provide some entertainment. The Cataractes are a solid young hockey club that should be in the upper tier of the QMJHL next season. Meanwhile, the Rocket are finally living up to some of their potential as the team played some of its best hockey leading up to the playoffs.

A lot will depend on Rocket goaltender Evan Mosher. If there is any player in the league that could steal a series, it’s likely Mosher. But when it comes to playoff success, the Rocket do not have a rich history. As much as we’d like to see PEI fans rewarded for their dedication over the years, it’s difficult to pick a team that has had awful luck in the post-season.

The two teams look fairly even on paper, though, and should provide some intense playoff hockey.

Bold Prediction: Cataractes reporter Steve Turcotte hears a rumor that the Sea Dogs once paid their fee to cross the Confederation Bridge using a Visa card rather than a MasterCard. In a column, he writes: "therefore, the Cataractes deserve to host the MasterCard Memorial Cup."

Series Prediction: Cataractes in seven.

Moncton Wildcats (9) vs Lewiston MAINEiacs (8)

Thoughts: The Summerside Lewiston MAINEiacs will have to stay out of the penalty box if they want to stay alive in the post-season. The team led the league in penalty minutes during the regular season and needs to have more disciplined in the post-season.

The surprising Maineiacs are an entertaining hockey club with some solid young talent and are led by 53-goal scorer Etienne Brodeur. The Wildcats have been very inconsistent at times this season and are not anywhere near the team they were a year ago.

The Wildcats should be able to pull off a win or two, but will have to play exceptionally well to move on.

Bold Prediction: After learning of this fight that took place earlier in the year, Wildcats reporter Neil Hodge calls the mascots “meatheads” and then writes an epic column about the danger of intermission contests.



Series Prediction: MAINEiacs in six.