QMJHL playoffs: Mooseheads play same trick at Phoenix

< /p> UPDATE DAY

​SHERBROOKE | Phoenix fans have been blessed this season, with their favorites losing just one game in regulation at home. Nothing to impress the Mooseheads and their goaltender Mathis Rousseau, who resisted a comeback.

The visitors signed a second straight 5-2 victory, tying this QMJHL semi-final 2-2.

The Phoenix had never trailed by three goals in 2022 -2023. But in the last two games, Halifax took a 4-0 lead, much to the chagrin of Sherbrooke fans.

For the second game in a row, the Mooseheads opened the scoring short by a man. Mathieu Cataford answered present in the absence of the best scorer of the circuit, Jordan Dumais, injured in the upper body. The young striker took advantage of a blunder from Israel Mianscum.

“Our first period has not been good yet, observed the coach of the year in the circuit, Stéphane Julien, of the Phoenix. The first goal, we are one against three and we put the puck in ourselves. I found that we were a little nervous in the first and the first goal cut our legs. »

Unrecognizable

Despite a few flashes here and there in a crowded Palais des sports Léopold-Drolet with 4,005 spectators, the Phoenix were unable to break through Rousseau's wall in the first 20 minutes of play. But Joshua Roy and Tyson Hinds revived the crowd by beating Rousseau in the final third. But it was too little, too late.

“Guys can push on offense, because they know if there's a mistake, I'm there in the back,” Rousseau mentioned, author of 32 judgments.

If the wind has changed sides, it's a matter of confidence according to the author of 32 saves. 

“Sherbrooke came to us after demolishing their opponents, added Rousseau. Maybe we were a little scared. We said to ourselves that we were able to play with them and that we had not finished second in the league for nothing. »

Julien's proteges have too often been unrecognizable, imprecise and undisciplined in addition to playing without conviction and softly. Halifax was not asking for that much. Captain Attilio Biasca and Evan Boucher both hit the target on a power play. Alexandre Doucet scored twice, including a goal in an abandoned net, and defender Owen Phillips contributed to three of his goals. 

The sense of urgency

“I would like to play better,” humbly said goaltender Olivier Adam, who gave up four times on 27 shots. I think Rousseau made more saves than me. It's my role to try to be better than that. “

” We must forget the two games at home, mentioned Roy. That's not how we want to play. We want to limit turnovers and chances to score and, at the moment, we are not doing that. […] In third, we came out strong, but at 4 to 0, it's hard to come back. You will have to have a sense of urgency throughout a game. »

►The next games will take place on Saturday in Halifax and Sunday in Sherbrooke. If a final duel is necessary, it will be played on Tuesday in Nova Scotia.