LNAH Playoff Scenarios: 7 Weekends Out

There are just 7 weekends remaining in the regular season. If the LNAH playoffs started today, the following scenarios would apply. 

Laval (1) vs Riviere du Loup (8): Nothing changes in the 1 vs 8 matchup. Laval continues to dominate, but the 3L have shaken things up. A coaching change from Eric Haley to Serge Forcier makes for an interesting X Factor- whether the 2 time coach of the year will have the team in different shape by playoff time remains to be seen. 

Jonquiere (2) vs Sorel-Tracy (7): The 2 vs 7 scenario remains the same. Two teams that utilize depth over star power would make for a great series. The Marquis are coming off a highly emotional weekend vs Laval- time will tell if they can channel the emotion into a late season run.  

Saint-Georges (3) vs Thetford (6): The Battle of the Beauce- playoff version! If there's a matchup that could produce finals-level electricity in the opening round, it’s this one. All the passion of two of the league's oldest franchises. A neighborhood rivalry. What more can we ask for?

Saint-Hyacinthe (4) vs Quebec (5): In an interesting inverse, last season expansion teams have swapped styles. The Bataillon have transitioned to a more technical team, while the National have added the rough stuff. Last year, Quebec sat near the bottom of the league in PIMS while Saint-Hyacinthe trailed only Laval. This year is the opposite. 

8 weekends out, the case for: Laval

Simply put, the Petroliers have been the number one team all season long. 

The Petroliers can make their case for taking home the Gilles-Rousseau Cup with an experienced veteran core. Leaders Danick Paquette and Yann Sauve bring experience and a steady mentality to offset the pressures of playoff hockey. 

Laval also brings a core of larger, more physically punishing players to the mix. With depth at this type of player including Chris Cloutier and Patrick Bordeleau, the Petrioliers have the ability to wear teams down over the course of a series. 

Finally, roster management should be an advantage in the post season. The team has played a hard hitting style since October, but well managed signings throughout the season should have the team fresh for the playoff run. Whether it was bringing in an enforcer for a single game or a complete player for the long run, the number and timing of signings has been well calculated in Laval.  

Up Next: Quebec