Thursday, April 7, 2005 | By Willy Palov, Halifax Herald

The QMJHL playoffs are unfolding pretty much according to script so far.

Four of the five favoured teams advanced from the first round, with the only upset being Lewiston's sweep of Shawinigan. But even that should have an asterisk beside it. The Maineiacs were only four points behind the Cataractes in the regular season and they likely would have finished higher if not for a number of injuries to key players.

So if you take the five surviving teams and mix in the three division winners - Halifax, Rimouski and Rouyn-Noranda - you're left with, arguably, the eight best teams in the league.

It should make for an exciting second round with all the heavy hitters ready to square off. Here's a look at how the four series shape up:

Rimouski (1) vs. Lewiston (8)

On paper, this is the biggest mismatch. The Oceanic haven't lost in their last 28 games and can trot out the league's top three scorers in Sidney Crosby, Marc-Antoine Pouliot and Dany Roussin. They also have the two highest-scoring defencemen in the QMJHL in Mario Scalzo Jr. and Patrick Coulombe, giving them the Q's best offence and most potent power play. But they are not perfect. Their goaltending remains suspect and their overall depth is average. If any of their key players go down with an injury or they meet a team with an elite defence, they will have their hands full. But the bad news for the Maineiacs is that they are not that team. They have two of the most dangerous forwards in the league in Alexandre Picard and Alex Bourret, but they don't have much firepower beyond that. They also have one of the best all-around blueliners in the league in Jonathan Paiement but their supporting cast isn't strong enough to stop Crosby and the other Oceanic snipers. Barring a superhuman performance by Lewiston goaltender Jaroslav Halak, which doesn't seem probable, this is the Oceanic's series to lose.

Prediction - Rimouski in five.

Halifax (2) vs. Gatineau (7)

This is a rematch of the 2003 league final, which the Olympiques won in seven games, but the scenario is much different. Halifax is coming off its only non-playoff year and narrowly missed finishing first overall. The Olympiques, meanwhile, are the two-time defending league champions but did well just to finish above .500 this year. The Mooseheads are deeper at every position and have more stars, but that isn't all. They also had the best defensive record in the league and are well rested after a two-and-a-half week layoff. However, the Olympiques still have a couple of aces up their sleeves. They have one of the best coaches in the league in Benoit Groulx and there are a handful of key players left from their championship squads. It won't be enough to give them a series win, but it should at least help them stay competitive.

Prediction - Halifax in five.

Rouyn-Noranda (3) vs. Moncton (6)

This matchup is a perfect example of why some feel the playoff format is flawed. The Huskies finished six points behind the Wildcats during the regular season but earned a higher seeding because they won their division. But don't feel sorry for the Wildcats. They may not have home-ice advantage but they are the favourites in this series. They have a better back end, led by star goalie Corey Crawford, and have a wealth of experienced players left from last year's team that went all the way to the league final. But that's not to say the Huskies will be pushovers. They have a dangerous corps of scorers and decent goaltending, which could see them through if the Wildcats' offence falters. But as long as the Wildcats stick to their usual stellar defensive ways, they should survive.

Prediction - Moncton in seven.

Chicoutimi (4) vs. Quebec (5)

This series should be the best of them all. Both teams had superb regular seasons and are coming off scares in the first round, which should have them awake enough to play their best hockey of the year. Throw in the fact they are geographical rivals and have fiery coaches behind the bench, and the fans in Chicoutimi and Quebec City should be in for a thrilling ride. As for the on-ice comparisons, this is a series that might be too close to call. The teams are almost identical at every position and play very similar styles. The only apparent edge is home-ice advantage for the Sagueneens but that isn't enough to swing the series in their favour. Still, someone has to win and the Sagueneens might have the slightest edge because of their better team chemistry.

Prediction - Chicoutimi in seven.