Cape Breton vs Quebec series preview
After a 68-game season filled with many highs and some lows, the Remparts found themselves fourth overall in the standings with a 40-25-1-2 record, drawing them into a first-round clash with the Screaming Eagles. Cape Breton meanwhile finished 13th by virtue of their 31-31-3-3 mark.
Given the cities are 800 kilometers apart, the 2-3-2 playoff format will be in effect much to the chagrin of Remparts coach and GM Philippe Boucher.
“I’m against this type of format, but there’s no point worrying about that now,” shrugged Boucher, who also understands the financial ramifications and positive travel impact this will have, but most teams prefer the 2-2-1-1-1.
“It’s not worth making a big deal about it, and besides last I checked the Remparts have home-ice advantage,” shot back Cape Breton GM and head coach Marc-André Dumont.
Remparts boast the advantage of also being dominant at home, but it’s a whole other story on the road. With a 27-7 mark on home ice and a 13-18-1-2 on opposing rinks, Boucher’s squad can’t afford to stumble at home against the Screaming Eagles in this series. Cape Breton is a solid 20-13-0-1 at home which could put the Remparts in dangerous waters if they don’t take care of business at the Colisée. That being said, the Screaming Eagles are shaky on the road (13-18-1-2).
Despite the 15 points that separated the teams in the overall standings, the teams do share some similarities. During the regular season, the Remparts lit the lamp 267 times while the Screaming Eagles scored 258 goals. Quebec allowed 232 goals, that’s 14 less then Cape Breton. With 90 points, Dmytro Timashov led the way offensively for the Remparts while Kyle Farrell topped the Screaming Eagles with 88 points of his own.
“They are a team that can score goals, there is no denying that,” warned Boucher. “Their line of Europeans Lazarev and Svechnikov joined by Farrell, their leading scorer, is always dangerous out there. We will have to keep an eye out for them and this is a team that has played really well since Christmas. Nothing will come easy for us and we know it.”
Dumont sees things a little differently heading into this series.
“The Remparts have to be considered the favourites in this series. They did finish fourth overall and have some dominant players who are capable of turning a game around at any moment. But since the trade deadline we’ve been a different team and much more sound defensively. The arrival of veterans like Alexandre Gosselin and Olivier Leblanc brought certain stability in our own zone.”
Between the pipes, Zachary Fucale has not been as dominant as expected since arriving in Quebec City in December, but he does have a proven track record which includes a Memorial Cup ring. Waiting in the wings is Callum Booth is only a shoulder tap away from protecting the Remparts net. In Cape Breton’s crease, the arrival of Alexandre Bélanger might bring back some bad memories for the Remparts, who have not forgotten that he was in the blue paint last spring for Rouyn-Noranda when they bounced Quebec from the playoffs.
“I don’t think that will have an impact whatsoever. These are two different teams facing each other. The context has changed and the Remparts are more experienced than last year,” reasoned Dumont.
The Remparts will have to get the most out of the power-plays they will receive given how the Screaming Eagles are one of the least penalized teams in the league.
“We’re a close-knit group with outstanding chemistry. We have talented players who work hard and our discipline is one of our trademarks,” pointed out Dumont.
Boucher on the other hand doesn’t think special will make the difference in this series.
“It’s true that they’re a disciplined team, but I think refs sometimes let players get away with more in the playoffs. I think 5-on-5 play is where the key to this series lies. It’s the even-strength situations you have to dominate. The team that shows the most patience and is opportunistic will come out on top. We’re working on a few details and we should be ready when the postseason starts.”
Head to Head Stats
| Head to Head Record 2014-15 | Regular Season | Québec 1-1-0-0 | Cape Breton 1-0-1-0 |
| Head to Head Record 2013-14 | Regular Season | Québec 0-1-0-1 | Cape Breton 2-0-0-0 |
| Last 5 Years record between teams | Québec 8-2-0-1 | Cape Breton 3-6-1-1 |
| Québec vs. Cape Breton Last 5 Years record at Québec | Québec 5-0-0-1 | Cape Breton 1-3-1-1 |
| Québec vs. Cape Breton Last 5 Years record at Cape Breton | Québec 3-2-0-0 | Cape Breton 2-3-0-0 |
| Previous Meetings This Season | Cape Breton 5 @ Québec 6 (Feb 27 2015) Final OT1 | |
| Québec 5 @ Cape Breton 8 (Dec 13 2014) Final | ||
Team Stats
| Cape Breton | Québec | |
| Team Record | 31-31-3-3 — 68 points | 40-25-1-2 — 83 points |
| Division Ranking | 5th Maritimes | 2nd East |
| Conference Ranking | 13th QMJHL | 4th QMJHL |
| League Ranking | 13th | 4th |
| Past 10 Games | 5-5-0-0 | 5-5-0-0 |
| Streak | 1-0-0-0 | 0-2-0-0 |
| Last Game | 3-2 W vs Acadie-Bathurst (Mar 21 2015) Final OT1 | 5-4 L @ Rimouski (Mar 21 2015) Final |
| Home Record | 20-13-0-1 | 27-7-0-0 |
| Away Record | 11-18-3-2 | 13-18-1-2 |
| GF | 258 | 267 |
| GA | 246 | 232 |
| PP (Overall) | (69/313) 22.0 | (65/268) 24.3 |
| PP (Home) | (37/166) 22.3 | (42/132) 31.8 |
| PP (Away) | (32/147) 21.8 | (23/136) 16.9 |
| PK (Overall) | (54/320) 83.1 | (64/316) 79.7 |
| PK (Home) | (25/168) 85.1 | (22/140) 84.3 |
| PK (Away) | (29/152) 80.9 | (42/176) 76.1 |
| Leading Rookie (PTS) | Svechnikov (32-46-78) | Timashov (19-71-90) |
| Most PIM | Brunelle – 115 | Turcotte – 135 |
| Team PIM/GM | 14.1/Game | 17.5/Game |
| Leading Scorers (PTS) | Farrell (42-46-88) | Timashov (19-71-90) |
| Lazarev (36-44-80) | Erne (41-45-86) | |
| Svechnikov (32-46-78) | Etchegary (25-35-60) | |
| Léveillé (13-41-54) | Brouillard (17-40-57) | |
| Anderson (26-22-48) | Gauthier (27-29-56) | |
| Leading After 1st | 17-6-2-0 | 20-5-0-1 |
| Leading After 2nd | 26-6-2-1 | 30-1-0-2 |
| Tied After 1st | 10-9-0-1 | 12-10-0-0 |
| Tied After 2nd | 2-4-0-0 | 6-7-1-0 |
| Trailing After 1st | 4-16-1-2 | 8-10-1-1 |
| Trailing After 2nd | 3-21-1-2 | 4-17-0-0 |
| Out Shooting Opponents | 15-20-1-1 | 26-7-0-1 |
| Out Shot by Opponents | 15-11-2-2 | 14-17-1-1 |
| 1-Goal Games | 12-13-3-3 | 12-7-1-2 |
| 2-Goal Games | 3-6-0-0 | 6-3-0-0 |
| 3-Goal Games | 7-8-0-0 | 10-7-0-0 |
