On the strength of a 42-save shutout from Mathis Rousseau, the Mooseheads defeated the Sherbrooke Phoenix 1-0 on Sunday evening, winning the semifinal series 4-2 and booking a trip to the Gilles Courteau Trophy final.
Former Saint John Sea Dogs forward Josh Lawrence scored the game's only goal. He also had six shots and went an impressive 26/34 in the faceoff circle in a second star performance.
The Mooseheads will play the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL final, which begins Friday in Quebec City.
Things certainly weren't looking good for Halifax early on in this series when they dropped the first two games on home ice and lost regular season leading scorer Jordan Dumais to an injury. But the Dumais injury seemed to flip a switch for the Mooseheads, who stepped up their game defensively and won the next four matches to advance to the final.
Halifax kept Sherbrooke's high powered offense to just four goals in the final four games combined, which included back-to-back shutouts by Rousseau. Former Sea Dogs forward Joshua Roy had just one point - a goal - in the final four contests.
Halifax kept Sherbrooke's high powered offense to just four goals in the final four games combined, which included back-to-back shutouts by Rousseau. Former Sea Dogs forward Joshua Roy had just one point - a goal - in the final four contests.
Rookie goaltender Samuel St-Hilaire got the start in net for Sherbrooke on Sunday over Olivier Adam. It was just the third appearance of the playoffs for St-Hilaire and his first career post-season start.
The Phoenix controlled the play in the first period but the Mooseheads managed to keep it scoreless. Sherbrooke had a few great chances - and four power plays - to score in the opening frame but either fumbled the puck or were denied by Rousseau.
The Phoenix controlled the play in the first period but the Mooseheads managed to keep it scoreless. Sherbrooke had a few great chances - and four power plays - to score in the opening frame but either fumbled the puck or were denied by Rousseau.
Lawrence opened the scoring at 4:47 of the second, sliding the puck under St-Hilaire on a wraparound to give Halifax a 1-0 lead despite being heavily out-chanced.
There it is! Josh Lawrence circles the net and scores the opening goal of Game 6 with a wraparound! #QPlayoffs | @HFXMooseheads pic.twitter.com/BC1hk4cC4M
— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 7, 2023
The Phoenix continued to press throughout the final two periods but could not beat Rousseau. Shots ended 42-21 in favour of Sherbrooke.
It's the fifth time the Mooseheads will play in the Gilles Courteau Trophy final and the first since 2019 when they lost to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies - who also beat the Moose in the Memorial Cup final that year.
The Mooseheads and Remparts played in one of the most memorable playoff series in QMJHL history in 2012 when Halifax erased a 3-0 series deficit and won Game 7 in overtime at the old Colisee Pepsi.
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