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Post by howitzer on Apr 13, 2014 19:08:11 GMT -4
Here we go, Round 3 vs Val-d'Or. Should be fun. Who ya got?
I have Moose in 5.
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Post by Reesor on Apr 13, 2014 19:36:20 GMT -4
Well we go from a team that we have never played before in the playoffs in Charlottetown, to a team we play almost every year in Gatineau, to a team we've never played before in Val d'Or. Drummondville is now the only team in the league (other than Sherbrooke) that we've never played in the playoffs.
It'll be billed as the top two offenses in the league going head to head, and the top two players in the league (Drouin and Mantha) going head to head. It would be easy to think there will be goals a plenty in this series, but I don't think so.
As I mentioned earlier, Val d'Or has a big, experienced defense corps. Power-play goals will not come nearly as easy for the Moose in this series. Combine that with a Val d'Or team that doesn't take as many minor penalties as Gatineau, and you get more of a reliance on 5 on 5 play for this series. I also believe that each team will respect the other team enough to attempt to slow the game down and wait for mistakes. Against other teams, either team could open the game up in the regular season and go toe-to-toe with teams and have success. Neither team will want to trade chances with each other in this series, so I think you'll see some methodical hockey... especially in the first couple games.
Offense wise, the first lines on each team are a wash. High end talent in this series is the best in the league (Other than maybe Quebec). The 1st line that out-performed the other in this series will give their team a huge advantage. The advantage Val d'Or has is on the backend, where they have more firepower defensively in Gelinas/Gazzola.
Depth wise, I'd say it's also a wash, with a possible slight edge to Val d'Or. If Darcy Ashley isn't back for whatever reason, Val d'Or has the edge here. 2nd/3rd line production will have to be better from Halifax in this series. Guys like Brent Andrews and Timo Meier will have to contribute more offensively for us to stay with the offense Val d'Or has. Both teams don't have much of a 4th line, so the team that can get depth production and that can attempt to roll 4 lines will wear the other team down faster.
Defensively I like Halifax. Val d'Or's defencemen are big, and will be more difficult to play against than Gatineau's were. But I believe Halifax plays a tighter defensive game, while still being able to score. This will be the key to victory for Halifax. Frustrate Val d'Or, and take advantage of breakdowns and power-plays.
The goaltending edge should go to Halifax. Bibeau actually had a worse save % with Val d'Or than he did with Charlottetown, which is a perfect example of what we've been saying about Fucale. The more shots you face, the easier it is to maintain a higher save %. Regardless, I'd give the goaltending to Fucale. He was very good in the Gatineau series, and he'll have to be better against the Foreurs.
I said at the start of the year that I'd be happy with the Moosehead's season if they made it passed the 2nd round. If you said to me 6 years ago that we'd have to endure an awful 3 year stretch in order to make round 3 3 years in a row, I'd take the rough stretch any day of the week. We can't take for granted the run we're on this year, and the run we've had the last three seasons. Saint John made it look easy for three seasons, but a three year run like Halifax has had doesn't happen that often. As a fan, I'm just going to have fun watching this team, and whatever happens now, is fine. Having said that, I really like the Moose's chances in this series. I think our experience can shut these guys down. I'm taking the Mooseheads in six games.
Go Moose!!!
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Sean
Blue-Chip Prospect
Posts: 328
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Post by Sean on Apr 13, 2014 19:49:17 GMT -4
Should be interesting what the schedule will be as metro centre has stars on ice on Friday 25th. Still should be 2-2-1-1-1 though.... may mean game 5 on Saturday leaving 6 and 7 on Mon/Tues? or do they start on Thursday/Friday and then Mon/Tue and game 5 on Thurs? Not sure what they will come up with, hopefully the league doesn't make us play game 5 on the 25th at the forum.
If we stop their top 5 and stay out of the box we win in 6...should be nice to see alot of offence though.
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Post by Citris on Apr 13, 2014 19:52:18 GMT -4
I'm going with Halifax in 4. Recent History suggest the Mooseheads have the Foreur's number.
2013-2014 - October 18- Val-D'or 2 Halifax 5 November 2 - Halifax 4 Val-D'or 2
2012-2013- November 18 - Val-D'or 3 Halifax 4 March 2 - Halifax 4 Val-D'or 2
2011-2012- October 28 - Halifax 3 Val-D'or 2 October 29 - Halifax 5 Val-D'or 2 November 6 - Val-D'or 3 Halifax 6
2010-2011- November 20 - Val-D'or 4 Halifax 2 December 3 - Halifax 4 Val-D'or 3 February 19 - Val-D'or 2 Halifax 1
So Val-D'or owns it last victory over Halifax Feb 19, 2011. The other notable thing, in Mantha's 57 goal MVP campaign, here are his goals against any given team.
Baie-Commeau - 1 Bathurst - 4 BLB Armada - 6 Cape Breton - 3 Charlettown - 2 Chicoutimi - 5 Drummondville- 5 Gatineau - 6 Halifax - 0 Moncton - 1 Quebec - 6 Rimouski - 2 Rouyan - 3 Shawinigan - 4 Sherebrooke - 8 Saint John - 1 Victoriaville- 1
Halifax is the only team this season to successfully hold Anthony Mantha from scoring a goal this season. Pretty impressive.
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Post by hfxfan09 on Apr 13, 2014 19:57:46 GMT -4
I'm going Halifax in 7, I'm going to miss Game 2 due to work so I hope its 2-2-1-1-1.
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Post by Reesor on Apr 13, 2014 20:05:15 GMT -4
Should be interesting what the schedule will be as metro centre has stars on ice on Friday 25th. Still should be 2-2-1-1-1 though.... may mean game 5 on Saturday leaving 6 and 7 on Mon/Tues? or do they start on Thursday/Friday and then Mon/Tue and game 5 on Thurs? Not sure what they will come up with, hopefully the league doesn't make us play game 5 on the 25th at the forum. If we stop their top 5 and stay out of the box we win in 6...should be nice to see alot of offence though. Even if they fly, I don't think they would have game 6 and 7 back to back if they are in different rinks. If Bobby Smith doesn't want to miss the gate for game 5, they'd probably have to schedule game 7 on Wednesday and not Tuesday.
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Post by mooseinfo on Apr 13, 2014 20:16:11 GMT -4
I think Halifax can play playoff hockey better than VD. I like the matchup but because Halifax was in a weak division Halifax cant win a game 4-0 series win for VD.
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Post by howitzer on Apr 13, 2014 20:42:22 GMT -4
This is a tough series to really breakdown, as we just don't know a lot about Val-d'Or. At least I don't. We see them here once a year, and beyond that, it's pretty much whatever we see in a boxscore (unless some sucker pays for a webcast lol).
Obviously they can score goals, and as much as they were maligned defensively in the regular season, their GA is equal to us so far in this playoffs. Whether it's Bibeau or their team systems play, something has changed. I still think we can expose them defensively, but might not be as easy as I thought a few weeks ago.
The way I look at it is guys like Richard, Aube-Kubel, Poudrier, will have to have huge performances to take us out. Richard and Aube-Kubel are talented 17yr olds, but I'm not sure they can out play and out produce guys like Ryan, Andrews, Ashley in a league semi-final. And some say the top talent is a wash, but imo the edge goes to Halifax. Mantha, Marcotte, Henley, Gelinas, Bibeau, will be a handful, no question about that. But to go up against Drouin, Ehlers, Gadoury, Weegar, Fucale? Advantage Halifax. And that's just talking skill alone. Factor in the expierence (moreso Jo, Fucale and Weegar), and the ability to elevate their game in crunch time, again, I say advantage Moose.
I see the games going a lot like what we've seen so far. Close, competitive, intense hockey for 40-50mins, but when it matters most, Moose will take advantage of offensive chances better, will shut it down defensively better, and continue to do what we've seen so far.....and that's to follow their game plan to a tee, and methodically do what it takes to win. So again, I say Moose in 5.
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Post by Citris on Apr 13, 2014 20:57:03 GMT -4
This is a tough series to really breakdown, as we just don't know a lot about Val-d'Or. At least I don't. We see them here once a year, and beyond that, it's pretty much whatever we see in a boxscore (unless some sucker pays for a webcast lol). Obviously they can score goals, and as much as they were maligned defensively in the regular season, their GA is equal to us so far in this playoffs. Whether it's Bibeau or their team systems play, something has changed. I still think we can expose them defensively, but might not be as easy as I thought a few weeks ago. The way I look at it is guys like Richard, Aube-Kubel, Poudrier, will have to have huge performances to take us out. Richard and Aube-Kubel are talented 17yr olds, but I'm not sure they can out play and out produce guys like Ryan, Andrews, Ashley in a league semi-final. And some say the top talent is a wash, but imo the edge goes to Halifax. Mantha, Marcotte, Henley, Gelinas, Bibeau, will be a handful, no question about that. But to go up against Drouin, Ehlers, Gadoury, Weegar, Fucale? Advantage Halifax. And that's just talking skill alone. Factor in the expierence (moreso Jo, Fucale and Weegar), and the ability to elevate their game in crunch time, again, I say advantage Moose. I see the games going a lot like what we've seen so far. Close, competitive, intense hockey for 40-50mins, but when it matters most, Moose will take advantage of offensive chances better, will shut it down defensively better, and continue to do what we've seen so far.....and that's to follow their game plan to a tee, and methodically do what it takes to win. So again, I say Moose in 5. I think the Addition of Ryan Graves from for Charlettown is underrated there. Gives them a real rugged anchor on that blueline, while Gelinas and Gazzola are more offensive dudes. Louic Marcotte has had a hell of a season 2, obviously Val-D'or was impressed with PEI last playoffs cause they have 3 ex-rocket on their roster. Mantha is a beast. Physically he's a man playing with boys, and he really stirs the drink there offensively. Keeping him off the score sheet is the most important.
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Post by powerplay on Apr 13, 2014 21:11:15 GMT -4
Funny all things come back to the name Brad Marchand lol
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Post by nsvees on Apr 13, 2014 21:11:14 GMT -4
I think Mooseheads in 6. Halifax has the better goalie, they know how to win (especially on the road), they don't get rattled. Other than Ashley, they're healthy; hopefully he's ready to go. I think that carries them over.
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Post by Smiley on Apr 13, 2014 21:12:28 GMT -4
I'm going with Halifax in 4. Recent History suggest the Mooseheads have the Foreur's number. 2013-2014 - October 18- Val-D'or 2 Halifax 5November 2 - Halifax 4 Val-D'or 2 2012-2013- November 18 - Val-D'or 3 Halifax 4March 2 - Halifax 4 Val-D'or 2 2011-2012- October 28 - Halifax 3 Val-D'or 2 October 29 - Halifax 5 Val-D'or 2 November 6 - Val-D'or 3 Halifax 6
2010-2011- November 20 - Val-D'or 4 Halifax 2 December 3 - Halifax 4 Val-D'or 3 February 19 - Val-D'or 2 Halifax 1 So Val-D'or owns it last victory over Halifax Feb 19, 2011. The other notable thing, in Mantha's 57 goal MVP campaign, here are his goals against any given team. Baie-Commeau - 1 Bathurst - 4 BLB Armada - 6 Cape Breton - 3 Charlettown - 2 Chicoutimi - 5 Drummondville- 5 Gatineau - 6 Halifax - 0Moncton - 1 Quebec - 6 Rimouski - 2 Rouyan - 3 Shawinigan - 4 Sherebrooke - 8 Saint John - 1 Victoriaville- 1 Halifax is the only team this season to successfully hold Anthony Mantha from scoring a goal this season. Pretty impressive. How the fuck does regular season series last year, the year before or even worse 3 seasons ago matter?
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Post by canbeer on Apr 13, 2014 21:13:53 GMT -4
ValDor has done about the same defensively in the playoffs as Halifax but that includes a first rd vs. Bathurst who easily had the most anemic scoring in the league this year, Drum was in the bottom half as well. Our D are anything but physical pushovers and if they do well against the 6'5" Mantha and Henley, their two top playoff scorers, and stay out of the box I think the Moose will be fine.
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Post by Smiley on Apr 13, 2014 21:14:14 GMT -4
I think Mooseheads in 6. Halifax has the better goalie, they know how to win (especially on the road), they don't get rattled. Other than Ashley, they're healthy; hopefully he's ready to go. I think that carries them over. If Ashley can play, Moose have a good chance. But without him it will be tough as they match up so well. Gazzola vs Murphy.
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Post by howitzer on Apr 13, 2014 21:19:02 GMT -4
We need to get the MC rockin like this......and get John Moore to say "astonishing" when we score haha.
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