QMJHL playoffs: Wildcats eliminate Drakkar 5-4 in Game 7 OT
By The Canadian Press on April 11, 2023.
MONCTON, N.B. – Maxim Barbashev’s goal at 14:53 of overtime lifted the Moncton Wildcats to a 5-4 victory over the visiting Baie-Comeau Drakkar in Game 7 of their first-round Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff series on Tuesday night. The Wildcats, who thought they had the game under wraps when Vincent Labelle scored a power-play goal at 15:43 of the third to make it a 4-3 contest, surrendered a goal at 17:51 of the third to Isaac Dufort – his third of the night – and were forced to endure their fifth overtime game of the best-of-seven series. Anthony Hamel also scored twice for the Wildcats, while Oscar Plandowski netted a single. Alexis Bernier was the other goal scorer for the Drakkar. The teams were tied 1-1 after the first period and 2-2 heading into the third. The Wildcats outshot the Drakkar 38-36 and went 1-for-3 on the power play. The Drakkar went 1-for-1 on the power play. The Drakkar forced the Game 7 showdown with a 4-3 overtime win on Monday. POKE CHECKS: Two best-of-seven quarterfinal series are set to begin Friday. The Sherbrooke Phoenix host the Drummondville Voltigeurs in Game 1, while the Gatineau Olympiques host the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in Game 1. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2023. 10-9
