Drakkar take 3-1 series lead

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In a game that took nearly three hours to complete, the Baie-Comeau Drakkar took a commanding 3-1 series lead with an 8-2 win over the Cape Breton Eagles in QMJHL semifinal playoff action on Tuesday at Centre 200.

Justin Poirier, coming off his first pointless performance of the playoffs, recorded four goals and an assist in the win.

The Drakkar jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period and led 4-1 after one. Following an emotional end to Game 3 on Monday night, those emotions certainly ran over in this game.

• Cam Squires and Alexis Bernier both received game misconducts for fighting in the first period.
• Cam MacDonald was given a major and match penalty for boarding in the second period.
• Drakkar goaltender Charles-Edward Gravel received a match penalty in the second period. It was originally announced as a major penalty for a trip, but the QMJHL website lists it as a match penalty for "miscellaneous." 
• Jacob Newcombe was given a game misconduct for slashing in the second period.

So Cape Breton's entire first line and Baie-Comeau's starting goaltender were all tossed from this game before the third period even started. That is a rarity at any point in the season but particularly in the post-season.

"We don't want anybody injured, you don't want suspensions. It's an emotional game. I think back in the day that would have been a longer game. There's a fine line between emotion and discipline,"

- @CBEHockey head coach Louis Robitaille on the emotions of Game 4.

— Jeremy Fraser (@CBPost_Jeremy) May 1, 2024

Match penalties typically come with an automatic one-game suspension, so both teams could be without key players in Game 5, which takes place Thursday in Baie-Comeau.

It's worth noting as well that the Eagles did not pull starting goaltender Nicolas Ruccia until halfway through the second period. Cape Breton's usual backup, Jakub Milota, is currently playing with Czechia at the IIHF Under-18 World Championship – something you do not see often from CHL players still in the playoffs.

In the other semifinal series, the Drummondville Voltigeurs took a 3-0 series lead with a 3-2 win over the Victoriaville Tigres on Tuesday. Game 4 is Wednesday night in Victoriaville.

A few other news and notes...

• Speaking of the world under-18s, Gardiner MacDougall, Travis Crickard and Team Canada concluded preliminary round play with an 11-3 win over Kazakhstan. Canada, who had already clinched top spot in Group B, will face Latvia in quarterfinal play on Thursday.
• The Summerside Western Capitals have forced a Game 6 in the Maritime Hockey League final following a 2-1 double overtime win over the Miramichi Timberwolves on Tuesday. The Timberwolves will try and clinch their first MHL title once again on Thursday at home.
• Charlie Coyle and the Boston Bruins fell 2-1 in overtime to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins will try and close out the series in Game 6 on Thursday.