Mar 19 Montreal Juniors Win First Playoff Game 5-3 over Rouyn-Noranda Haskies

Game one of the QMJHL playoffs between the Montreal Juniors and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies took place tonight at the Verdun Auditorium with both teams memories fresh from last week's fight filled spectacle that saw the Huskies take the game 2-1 in overtime. But in the end, the home ice advantage that the Juniors actually ended up clinching in that same game, was to Montreal's advantage as the sold out crowd of 3780 were treated to an extremely entertaining hockey game that saw the home team win 4-2.

Good news came in the form of two players that were suited up and in the line-up for the Juniors. Toni Ritter, who had been out for the last few weeks was back in action as was starting goaltender Jake Allen after he had been scratched the last few games.

The Juniors would set the tone and break into an early 2 goal lead in the first period with Nick Layton first getting on the board, taking a pass from Matt Fillier in front of the net, bringing it from his back-hand to his fore-hand and deftly pushing it past Mikael Audette at 4:16. Montreal would double its lead at the 11 minute mark while on the power-play. Defenseman, Dmitri Kostromitin who thankfully was way out of position was able to pick up the loose puck, again right in front of the net and tap it home. Jake Allen faced 10 shots and the only one that beat him was called back as the official had already called the play down as Kostromitin, who had just previously taken a hit in the corner and appeared hurt. He would eventually recover and head to the bench.

After Montreal was unable to capitalise on a partial 5 on 3 power-play, a defensive Juniors turnover ended up with Sergey Ostapchuk letting a shot go wide behind the net and with Jake Allen perhaps a tad nonchalant getting back into position, was unable to stop Jeff Desjardins who caught the live rebound and beat Allen easily. Montreal would get another power-play opportunity after Jake Allen was crashed into during a scrum with which the Juniors took exception. Mathew Brenton squared off against Christophe Losier in a 20 second bout and both would get 5 minute majors for their effort. But the Juniors were unable to muster many opportunities and would subsequently end the period on yet another power-play that Rouyn-Noranda received for having too many men on the ice. Shots at the end of 2: Montreal 13, Huskies 21.

The third period would be a virtual parade to the penalty box for the Huskies and a golden opportunity for the Juniors. While the Huskies would already be a man down, they would be called for delay of game. On the ensuing 5 on 3, and after many great attempts thwarted by the Huskies, with 21 seconds remaining in the 1st power-play, Louis-Marc Aubry got his first of the playoffs with helpers from Layton and Kostromitin. Jake Allen was also called upon to make some very good saves as the Huskies also had their chance on the man advantage, however the Juniors and Allen were able to keep the Huskies at bay.

Penalties would prove very costly for the Huskies as Montreal was given a third 5 on 3 at the halfway point of the period and it only took Montreal, specifically TJ Brennan, a few seconds to up the lead to 4-1, virtually putting this one out of the Huskies' reach. Montreal's power-play which struggled through most of the season, found a way to click as 3 of the Juniors' 4 goals were scored while they were a man up. Rouyn-Noranda would get one back on the power-play as well with 5:24 left in the game, a laser from the blue line off of Nicolas Deslaurier's stick and then with only 1:20 left on the clock and with the goalie pulled, the Huskies made it gut-check time as Dominik Bohac wristed a high, rising shot past a crowd and past Jake Allen. But it was all not to be. with only 16 seconds left in the game, on a David Foucher clearing attempt, a slow bouncing puck  rolled for an eternity down the ice   and into the empty net. Montreal would win their first ever playoff game by a score of 5-3, much to the elation of the sold out crowd, who would undoubtedly all be back tomorrow night when they will do it all again.

photo by Amanda Stein

Tags: Dmitri Kostromitin \ hockey \ Jake Allen \ LHJMQ \ Mathew Brenton \ Matt Fillier \ Montreal juniors \ Nick Layton \ playoffs \ QMJHL \ Rouyn-Noranda Huskies