QMJHL's second round matchups set

The second round matchups of the Gilles Courteau Trophy playoffs are locked in.

Maxim Barbashev scored at 14:53 of overtime to give the Moncton Wildcats a 5-4 Game 7 win over the Baie-Comeau Drakkar on Tuesday at Avenir Centre. The Wildcats will face the Halifax Mooseheads in a Maritimes Division showdown in the second round.

It’s all over! Barbashev scores the OT winner in Game 7 to send the @monctonwildcats to the second round! 🚨 #QPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/BWhyE9xxDG

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) April 12, 2023

The Wildcats and Drakkar went to overtime five times in the seven game series, a new QMJHL record. It was, without a doubt, one of the most entertaining playoff series in recent league history.

The Drakkar loss ends the junior career of overage forward Marshall Lessard, who had a goal and two assists in the series. Lessard helped the Sea Dogs win the Memorial Cup last season.

Now we look ahead to the next round where it would seem the much "juicer" matchups will be in the Eastern Conference.

Eastern Conference

1) Quebec vs 5) Rimouski

2) Halifax vs 3) Moncton

Western Conference

1) Sherbrooke vs 6) Drummondville

2) Gatineau vs 4) Rouyn-Noranda

All four series are expected to begin Friday.

The four teams that advance to the third round will all be reseeded based on the overall league standings.

Over in the Ontario Hockey League, the Barrie Colts and Saginaw Spirit both advanced to the second round with wins on Monday. The Spirit, who will host the 2024 Memorial Cup, needed seven games to eliminate the state rival Flint Firebirds.

Exceptional player Michael Misa had three goals and five assists in the first round with the Spirit. Team Canada standout defenseman Brandt Clarke, meanwhile, leads the entire OHL in playoff scoring with 17 points while playing in just five of Barrie's first round games.

Eastern Conference

1) Ottawa vs 4) Peterborough

2) North Bay vs 3) Barrie

Western Conference

2) London vs 8) Kitchener

3) Sarnia vs 4) Saginaw

The OHL playoffs resume on Thursday.

In the Western Hockey League, the top four teams in each conference are still alive - which means Connor Bedard and the Regina Pats have had their season come to an end. Bedard, playing in very likely his final season of junior hockey, had 20 points in the seven game series against the Saskatoon Blades.

Eastern Conference

1) Winnipeg vs 4) Moose Jaw

3) Saskatoon vs 2) Red Deer

Western Conference

1) Seattle vs 4) Prince George

2) Kamloops vs 3) Portland

The WHL playoffs resume on Friday.