Oceanic, Wildcats complete sweeps

Mike Bernard/Charlottetown Islanders

The Memorial Cup hosts are moving on to the second round of the QMJHL playoffs.

The Rimouski Oceanic completed a sweep of the Charlottetown Islanders on Wednesday with a 4-1 victory at Eastlink Centre. The Oceanic outscored the Islanders 24-3 in the four-game series.

The first round of the QMJHL playoffs hasn't been an easy ride for Memorial Cup hosts of late. 

• 2022: The Saint John Sea Dogs were eliminated in the best-of-five opening round by the Oceanic. 
• 2019: The Halifax Mooseheads needed seven games to advance past the Quebec Remparts. The Mooseheads went on to lose in the league final.
• 2015: The Remparts needed seven games to get past the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. The Remparts went on to lose in the league final.
• 2012: The Shawinigan Cataractes were the lost QMJHL host team to sweep their first round series, beating the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. The Cataractes went on to lose in the next round.

The Oceanic weren't the only team to complete a sweep on Wednesday. The Moncton Wildcats are moving on after a 4-3 victory over the Remparts at Videotron Centre. The series was surprisingly close with three of the four games being decided by a goal.

Some other Wednesday night notes...

• The Acadie-Bathurst Titan have forced at least one more game in their franchise's history thanks to a 2-1 win over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in Game 4. Joshua Fleming made 32 saves in a first star performance. The Sags carry a 3-1 series lead into Friday's game Game 5 at the KC Irving Regional Centre.
• Despite a 51-save performance by Halifax Mooseheads goaltender Jacob Steinman, the Drummondville Voltigeurs won Game 4 by a score of 3-1 to tie the series at 2-2. Ethan Gauthier scored all three Drummondville goals. The road team has won every game of this series heading into Friday's Game 5 at Scotiabank Centre.
• The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took a 3-1 series lead with a 4-0 win over the Cape Breton Eagles. Lucas Beckman stopped all 30 shots he faced. Former Sea Dogs forward Cole Burbidge was a -3 in the loss.
• The Gatineau Olympiques have forced a Game 5 thanks to a 3-2 overtime win over the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Maxim Dubé netted the winner at 18:06 of overtime. The Huskies lead the series 3-1.
• After dropping Game 3 on Tuesday, the Shawinigan Cataractes rebounded with a 4-0 win over the Val-d'Or Foreurs to take a 3-1 series lead. Former Sea Dogs forward Vince Elie netted his third goal of the playoffs in the win.
• The Sherbrooke Phoenix took a 3-1 series lead over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada with a 4-3 double overtime win. Jean-Felix Lapointe scored at 3:01 of the second overtime frame.