‘All the pressure is now on their shoulders – Mario Pouliot
BLAINVILLE – Rested now for a week, the Armada had to wait until this last Tuesday to find out who their next opponents were going to be. Joël Bouchard’s squad will be in peak form tonight, when they hit the ice against the Titan.
‘There were all sorts of possibilities right to the end…it was exciting. We were watching the other series; there was some great hockey being played. It was a good first round,’ opines Joël Bouchard, wo claims there’s no disadvantage in not knowing your next opponent until the very last moment.
‘Not at this point of the year. We know the other teams well and once you are in the playoffs, everyone is fighting to beat everyone else. Having made it this far, your worst enemy is always going to be yourself, and that’s true for everyone. Personally, With the scoring being so tight, we could have gotten into trouble several times against the Voltigeurs.’
The Titan will arrive in Blainville-Boisbriand on Wednesday night, after a long day of travel. Coach Mario Pouliot says that his squad has confidence in their abilities, and being the underdog is a much more comfortable position to be in.
‘When they acquired Alex Barré-Boulet and Pierre-Luc Dubois in the trade period, the Armada were sending a clear message. They were going All-in, and all the pressure is now all on their shoulders,’ he declares.
2-3-2 Format
Because of the distance between the two cities, the series will follow a 2-3-2 format. The Armada will host the first two games, and then if necessary the last two.
‘This last week our players were able to get a bit of rest. Without the need to travel, they were also able to advance in some school work and get ahead of things. It’s useful, because with three game to play in Acadie-Bathurst, we will be living out of our suitcases,’ Bouchard explains.
The Titan see neither advantage or disadvantage in playing host for three consecutive games.
‘When I was in Rouyn-Noranda, we won two of those series on the road. I think what’s important is to quickly get your first win and to build the rest on that. We can count on good depth at every position, and that will be our key to success,’ opines the coach, who recently signed a two-year contract extension.
Reinforcements during the series?
In the first round, the Armada were forced to offer an incomplete roster. Aside from Jérémy Roy (injured for several months) Bouchard was deprived of the services of Antoine Crête-Belzille and Rémy Anglehart. Alexandre Alain and Charlie Roy also had to watch some games from the press box, but were able to make a return before the end of the series.
While his defensive squad is having some success, the coach can now look forward to the return to play of Antoine Crête-Belzille during the course of the series.
‘It’s important not to rush anything with these young players. Sure, they are competitors and some would like to make a quick return to play, but you can’t place them in a vulnerable position. Our medical team gives the green light and after we decide what we’re going to do. Throwing them back into the game too quickly is not the most profitable thing for us.
The Titan say that everyone is in good health and ready to challenge the Armada.
