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Post by Penguins23® on Mar 26, 2024 14:01:25 GMT -4
Not much chatter here but F it. Let's get the ball rolling. As usual I'm on mobile and just throwing thoughts out randomly.
Despite the seeding, Chicoutimi has to be considered the favorite. In their last 20 games, they're 16-3-1, with the 4 losses being to Victoriaville (in a shootout), Drummondville (due to a 3rd period comeback), and the other two to Rouyn-Noranda. This stretch also included 2 games against Baie-Comeau, whom they beat twice in regulation.
There's definitely a huge coaching mismatch. Yannick Jean is known to try different things in the playoffs, while Dan Lacroix seems lost even when playing against lower-ranked teams at home during the regular season.
Chicoutimi is a young squad, but it's uncertain how much playoff experience matters. They're starting on the road, playing in an arena that's only 33% full for 2 games before returning home to their Olympic-sized ice surface for 3 straight games.
In the last Wildcats regular season game, Captain and MVP Yoan Loshing, along with Adam Fortier-Gendron, Gabe Smith, and Ales Zielinski were missing due to injuries or illness. Steinman was also out, but it seems he was just under the weather. Any updates on the others?
Remi Delafontaine should start in nets for Chicoutimi. He's 3-0 against Moncton this season with a save percentage of .946. Steinman for Moncton is 1-1 versus Chicoutimi, with a save percentage of .881.
Both teams will want to stay out of the penalty box as they have 2 of the top 3 power plays, with Moncton ranked 1st and Chicoutimi 3rd. They're both mid-pack on the penalty kill.
The Wildcats could win in 5 or lose in 5, and neither would surprise me, but it's hard to feel too optimistic about it.
The last playoff meeting was in 2015, where Moncton won in 5 games. Useless fact.
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Post by WhiteTyAffair on Mar 26, 2024 16:13:31 GMT -4
Sagueneens in 6.
Within three weeks, the search for a new head coach will commence as it'll be announce Dan Lacroix has signed a contract in Europe for next season.
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Post by JustAnotherCatsFan on Mar 26, 2024 16:29:20 GMT -4
Don't usually comment on this page but honestly just show up for game 1 and 2 and see what happens, no need to be so negative lol. I have the cats in 7. Should be a good series regardless of the outcome. It's only junior hockey, literally anything can happen. Not to mention next year is gonna be that much better. Go cats go
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Post by Captain Obvious on Mar 26, 2024 17:00:40 GMT -4
It's a good news bad news type thing. The bad news is the cats have not played well the last 2+ months and don't look like a team headed for a long playoff run, the good news is, playoffs is a whole new season. They'll need to tighten up defensively, Chi has a young team but very skilled, they'll make you pay for odd man rushes.
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Post by lirette on Mar 26, 2024 19:05:59 GMT -4
Don't usually comment on this page but honestly just show up for game 1 and 2 and see what happens, no need to be so negative lol. I have the cats in 7. Should be a good series regardless of the outcome. It's only junior hockey, literally anything can happen. Not to mention next year is gonna be that much better. Go cats go I think if Steinman plays the way he did last playoffs against BC the Cats have a good chance, he's going to have a pile of high quality chances on him which happens no matter what team they face. I give us the edge in goaltending but it's probably even when you consider the odd man rushes the Cats tend to give up. Their defense has very similar production to the Wildcats so id probably call that a wash, our forward depth is better but I could see Lacroix getting easily rattled if Jean has some unique game plan coming in. I have a really hard time predicting this one but I think it'll go 6 or 7 games. |
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Post by Penguins23® on Mar 26, 2024 20:21:15 GMT -4
Don't usually comment on this page but honestly just show up for game 1 and 2 and see what happens, no need to be so negative lol. I have the cats in 7. Should be a good series regardless of the outcome. It's only junior hockey, literally anything can happen. Not to mention next year is gonna be that much better. Go cats go What did I say that wasn't true? |
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Post by Jack Bauer on Mar 27, 2024 7:58:09 GMT -4
Don't usually comment on this page but honestly just show up for game 1 and 2 and see what happens, no need to be so negative lol. I have the cats in 7. Should be a good series regardless of the outcome. It's only junior hockey, literally anything can happen. Not to mention next year is gonna be that much better. Go cats go What did I say that wasn't true? You simply left the pom poms out of your post. |
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Post by davo1997 on Mar 27, 2024 8:36:48 GMT -4
Chi gonna win this within 6 games
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Post by livinthedream on Mar 27, 2024 13:06:11 GMT -4
This series is a real toss up and the first game is critical. The Cats are a fragile group in the 2nd half and when they get consistent depth scoring and solid goaltending are a very good team. Chicoutimi on the other hand is coming in with tons of confidence. If the Cats can limit mistakes and gain "lady Mo" early in the series on a young Sags team I think they can prevail. Winner of game one wins the series in 6.
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Post by riverviewroyal on Mar 28, 2024 9:34:56 GMT -4
Any news if Smith, Loshing, AFG, and Z will be back for Game 1?
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Post by hockeyfanatic on Mar 29, 2024 10:14:34 GMT -4
Just bought a ticket for a friend , lots of empty seats , I know its Good Friday but wow ! the rink will be lucky to have 2500 fans unless there are a lot of walk up sales.
Big Game tonight , hopefully we get some good news on the injuries
Go Cats
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Post by xkarlsson65x on Mar 29, 2024 10:38:15 GMT -4
Hoping for good injury news, would be a huge loss without Loshing and at least one of the d-men.
Always nervous with the 2-3-2 series, need to take care of business at home. Excited to see how Chicoutimi plays in person after seeing their strong end of the season.
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Post by Penguins23® on Mar 29, 2024 12:03:30 GMT -4
Just bought a ticket for a friend , lots of empty seats , I know its Good Friday but wow ! the rink will be lucky to have 2500 fans unless there are a lot of walk up sales. Big Game tonight , hopefully we get some good news on the injuries Go Cats Last year Game 1 on a Friday had 2771. Probably around 3,000 today if they're lucky. |
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yorb
Draft Pick
Posts: 67
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Post by yorb on Mar 29, 2024 15:04:18 GMT -4
Pretty safe to say they passed 3000 last night, but the shots of the club seat side won't be flattering.
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Post by Arnold Slick on Mar 29, 2024 15:41:11 GMT -4
Game 1 line-up is in:
Muller-Desnoyers-Mercier
Loshing-Sumpf-Hayne
Smith-Lounsbury-Collard
Carrier-Trenholm-Auger
Morin-Plandowski
Boutin-Zielinski
Grenier-AFG
Steinman
I mostly like this set up. If Hayne is playing he has to play in the top two lines so his spot in the line-up makes sense. I would probably flip Carrier and Smith as I didn't think that third line combination worked very well when Muller was away at WJC but let's see how it plays out now.
Seven 16-year-olds playing in this game tonight.
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