Eagles Fall To Drakkar In Opening Game Of League Semi-Final
NOTES FROM THE GAME
– The Baie-Comeau Drakkar built a 3-0 lead in the opening period and defeated the Cape Breton Eagles 4-0 in the opening game of their QMJHL semi-final series.
– Raoul Boilard & Justin Gill each recorded a goal & an assist in the win, while Justin Poirier & Louis-Charles
Plourde also scored in the Baie-Comeau victory.
– It was just the second loss of the post-season for the Eagles, and the first time the Eagles were shut out in the 2024 playoffs.
– It was the first shutout for Baie-Comeau goaltender Charles-Édward Gravel in the playoffs, as he stopped 26 shots. Nicolas Ruccia stopped 38 of 42 in the loss.
– The Eagles did receive some good news prior to the game, as the organization won the 2024 QMJHL draft lottery and will now pick #1 in the 2024 QMJHL draft. By virtue of holding the draft pick of Saint John, who finished with the third worst record in the league, the Eagles had a 14% chance of picking first prior to winning the lottery.
Boilard’s goal came just 2:17 into the opening frame on a play that started with his brother Jules. After the older brother won the puck in the corner, he found Gill who fed it across the crease for the Raoul Boilard opening goal. The Drakkar almost had a 2-0 early but a would be second goal was waived off due to goaltender interference.
The second marker came just past the halfway mark of the opening stanza when Poirier jumped into the play to cash in on a cross ice pass from Isaac Dufort. 77 seconds later, Gill expanded the lead to 3-0.
Baie-Comeau outshot the Eagles 14-6 in the first period, and after outshooting them 19-11 in the middle stanza they added to the lead. After receiving the puck in front of the net, Ploude deked through the legs of Ruccia to push the score to 4-0.
The shots were nine a piece in the third period as neither team could find the back of the net, and Baie-Comeau took the series opening game.
The Eagles will look to even up the series tomorrow night before heading back to Cape Breton. Game two goes tomorrow night at 8 PM AST. The game will be televised on Eastlink, is available for purchase on https://shorturl.at/jnvFI and you can also hear all the action on 1270 AM CJCB or online at www.cjcbradio.com
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Raoul Boilard (Baie-Comeau) 1 goal, 1 assist, +2
2. Justin Gill (Baie-Comeau) 1 goal, 1 assist , +1
3. Anthony Lavoie (Baie-Comeau) 1 assist, +2
Scratches For Cape Breton: Jude Campbell (injury), Noah Larochelle (injury), Jakob Milota (World Under 18s), Etienne Dejsardins
Scratches For Baie-Comeau: Julien Paillé (injury), Jabez Seymour, Kirill Evstigneev, Mattias Gilbert
Shots On Goal: 42-26 in favour of Baie-Comeau
Cape Breton Power Play: 0/1
Baie-Comeau Power Play: 0/1