Is the Phoenix the bane of the dominant Remparts, who lead not only the Eastern Conference but the QMJHL?
• Also read: A game that will say a lot for the phoenix
We were able to deduce this by focusing on the results of the first three games between the two powers. Quebec certainly won the first bout but conceded four goals in the win.
Sherbrooke then inflicted losses on the “Red Devils” of 5 to 1 and 5 to 2, the latter while more than 16,000 spectators were packed in the stands at the Videotron Center.
Complete training
But not so fast, says Patrick Roy. “Until now we have never really clashed with our complete formations,” emphasized the Remparts head coach on Tuesday.
“The last time we played them was after Christmas,” he continued. We had a streak of three games in four nights and so did they. We came back from Baie-Comeau, they had played the day before. It lacked players who competed in the World Junior Hockey Championship. »
Indeed, in that 5-2 loss in Quebec on December 31, the Remparts were denied Nathan Gaucher, who was defending Canada’s colors at the World Juniors.
On the Sherbrooke side, Joshua Roy and Tyson Hinds also represented the Maple Leaf, while David Spacek donned the Czech Republic uniform.
Big additions
And in the two previous duels, the teams had not yet shown their full formation. The Remparts weren’t counting on the prolific Justin Robidas, who arrived in Quebec in late December.
During the transaction phase, the club also received the services of Daniel Agostino, Jérémy Langlois, Thomas Darcy and Cam Thomson.
The Phoenix were also proactive late in the year, adding talented Jakub Brabenec, Jacob Melanson – the team’s second-best scorer – Andrew Belchamber, Marc-André Gaudet and goalkeeper Olivier Adam.
In short, with all these changes, Patrick Roy “takes the tape [du dernier match] and throw it in the trash.”
“I like concentrating on the game just as much [ce soir] and see how we’re going to react in this situation,” he said.
Because according to the head coach, this part will serve as a barometer for the rest of the season. “It will allow us to see where we are, the things that we can continue to improve on,” he explained.
Nothing is played
And if Patrick Roy thinks this meetup will look like a playoff match, it’s because both his Remparts and the Phoenix have aspirants hot on their heels.
In the east — and overall — the Halifax Mooseheads are six points behind Quebec. You won your last 10 meetings.
To the west, Sherbrooke contends with Gatineau and Victoriaville.
The season ramparts
- 37-6-3 record – 77 points
- 1st in the eastern association
- 1st in the QMJHL
- 194 goals scored
- 102 goals conceded
- Record in the last 10 games: 8-0-2
- Power play percentage: 25.1
- Shorthanded percentage: 82.2
Top 5 scorers
in front of the net
- William Rousseau – 29 GP – 22-4-3 record – 1.97 GAA – .919 savings percentage – 4 shutouts
- Quentin Miller – 13 GP – 11-2-0 record – 2.01 GAA – .919 savings percentage – 1 shutout
The victories more convincing
January 18: Quebec 11 – Baie-Comeau 2
December 28: Quebec 9 – Baie-Comeau 0
October 29: Quebec 9 – Cape Breton 2
October 30: Quebec 7 – Drummondville 1
The confrontations between two teams
November 16: Sherbrooke 4 @ Quebec 5
November 20: Quebec 1 @ Sherbrooke 5
December 31: Sherbrooke 5 @ Quebec 2