A lot of "must-wins" in QMJHL Tuesday

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

It'll be a pivotal Tuesday night for every playoff team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

All eight series feature 2-0 leads, meaning eight teams are essentially in must-win scenarios for Tuesday's Game 3s.

 

Certainly the most notable teams in danger are the Halifax Mooseheads and Moncton Wildcats — two teams that most predicted would have a hard time in the opening round. The Mooseheads are down 2-0 to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan following back-to-back overtime losses on home ice. The Wildcats, meanwhile, are down 2-0 to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens following back-to-back disappointing showings on home ice.

The Mooseheads were expected to get a big boost for Game 2 with the return of star forward Jordan Dumais — but that didn't happen. Halifax has struggled mightily against Bathurst in the second half and just can't get clicking against the Titan's defensive play.

Jordan Dumais will not be in the lineup tonight after re-aggravating his lower body injury this week. The timetable for his return remains uncertain. #GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/g9D825bLmn

— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) March 30, 2024

The Wildcats' situation feels a bit more dire than the Mooseheads' given that they'll be playing in a much more hostile environment compared to the KC Irving Regional Centre. The next three games of this series — if all three are even needed — will be played on the big ice in Chicoutimi.

Moncton will be without Vincent Collard due to a two-game suspension.

Task gets tougher for Moncton Wildcats as forward Vincent Collard suspended for two games after high sticking call in 5-4 loss to Chicoutimi in Game 2. Moncton trails series 2-0.

— Kevin Barrett (@KevinBarrettNB) April 1, 2024

The higher seeds lead the other series 2-0: Baie-Comeau leads Charlottetown; Cape Breton leads Rimouski; Drummondville leads Saint John; Rouyn-Noranda leads Gatineau; Victoriaville leads Shawinigan; and Sherbrooke leads Blainville-Boisbriand.

A few other news and notes...

• A reminder that tickets to Games 3 and 4 of the Sea Dogs/Voltigeurs series at TD Station are $10 for the general public and $7 for season ticket members, plus taxes and fees.
• Really great to see Sydney buzzing about the Eagles again. Cape Breton averaged 4,173 fans for their two home games last weekend.
• Cape Breton's Cam Squires currently leads the QMJHL in playoff scoring with eight points (two goals and six assists).
• Bit of an odd April Fools' Day joke from the Victoriaville Tigres.
• Drummondville's playoff hoodies are now bilingual after complaints from a Quebec politician.

Le nouveau chandail bilingue des ⁦@VoltigeursDRU⁩ est déjà arrivé et porté par les joueurs. #Voltigeurs #Drummondville #LHJMQ pic.twitter.com/wpQqXAAayB

— Jonathan Habashi (@JonathanHabashi) March 30, 2024