LNAH Playoffs: Opening Weekend

Round one is under way, and to this point there have been no surprises. With all 8 teams qualifying, the league used the hi/low seeding, which normally produces a warm up round for seeds 1 and 2, while the middle seeds provide the entertainment and guesswork. While this is mostly true, there’s one glaringly interesting matchup that has everyone talking.

The 1-8 Seed matchup: No surprise. Oddly, this one is close and it’s not a surprise.  The #1 Seed Cool FM led the league standings from start to finish, while the #8 seed National occupied the basement from the onset. So why is this so intriguing and, to this point, close? Saint-Georges spent the first half of the season as a juggernaut, before cooling to good in the second half. Conversely, Quebec couldn’t buy a win in the first half, but made wise moves and high profile acquisitions throughout the season resulting in the team in Ancienne Lorette winning 4 of the final 5 games. While the 1-8 match, regardless of sport or league is normally a cakewalk, everyone seemed to see this being something else. So far it has been “something else” with Saint-Georges narrowly winning game one before losing game 2 in double OT. This one is, and will be, the entertaining matchup of round 1. Series Tied 1-1

The 2-7 Seed matchup: No surprise. This is more of what we expect from the opening round. Despite a match up of the top goal scorer vs the top goalie, there was little guesswork coming into this one. The series is off to a 2-0 lead for for  #2 seed Sorel-Tracy who have been increasingly good all season after some early season gelling. As the Eperviers have been steadily good, the Jonquire has been on the opposite fortunes all season. Coming in with higher expectations, the team never seemed to hit its stride. The two team’s fortunes have continued though the opening weekend with Sorel-Tracey taking both games. Sorel-Tracy Leads 2-0

The 3-6 Seed Matchup: No Surprise. Probably the most interesting in terms of the neighborhood rivalry, this one has an established team and coach in Laval showing some seasoning in two high scoring, spirited affairs. Saint-Hyacinthe has shown no signs of being an expansion team all season but is mostly outmatched here. Laval Leads 2-0

The 4-5 Seed Matchup: Slight Surprise: A rematch of last year’s finals, both teams have struggled with consistency this year, but Riviere du Loup more so. Thetord, under the guidance of the league’s winningest coach could, and still can, make the case for having the advantage, but finds itself in a hole after a pair of close games. Still, anything could happen here. Riviere du Loup Leads 2-0