Sherbrooke forward Charles-Antoine Beauregard (Photo: Vincent Rousseau)Two teams faced elimination last night, and both got the boot.
The Sherbrooke Phoenix were the most surprising of the two, getting swept in Round 2 by the Shawinigan Cataractes after the Phoenix decimated the Armada in Round 1.
In each of the team's four games, they were outshot consistently -- with the Cataractes registering 153 to Sherbrooke's 85. Despite the onslaught, goaltender Linards Feldbergs was exceptional in the series for the Phoenix, averaging a .909 save percentage during the series.
Despite the lack of offense, the Phoenix didn't lack fire power -- scoring at least two goals a game despite their lack of shots. Thus the responsibility falls on the team's inability to slow and stuff Shawinigan's offense.
The other team that lost their spot in the post-season were the Halifax Mooseheads who unsurprisingly were unable to catch the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.
Much like Feldbergs, the Mooseheads' were propped up by their goaltender in overager Jacob Steinman who averaged an . 891 save percentage across 173 shots. The Mooseheads, too, struggled both offensively and defensively.
Unlike the Phoenix, however, the Mooseheads did not have the same goalscoring ability, averaging only a goal per game in the series.
Both teams can't be too upset with how they've played up to this point, however. The Mooseheads, for one, are a surprise to have even made it to the playoffs, let alone the second round. Additionally, the playoff experience should bode well for the young core -- most of whom haven't even had the chance to be eligible for the NHL draft yet. As for the Phoenix, while a sweep leaves a sour note, the team did not go 'all-in' at the trade deadline -- instead cautiously buying and selling -- to set up for a real run over the next season or two.
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