Published Mar 29, 2025 • Last updated 12 hours ago • 4 minute readAlexis Cournoyer of the Cape Breton Eagles, right, stretches across the crease in an attempt to keep a loose puck out of the net during Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoff action at Centre Sportif Alcoa in Baie-Comeau, Que., on Saturday. Baie-Comeau won the game 5-2 and leads the best-of-seven series 2-0. CONTRIBUTED/KASSANDRA BLAIS, BAIE-COMEAU DRAKKAR (MUST USE PHOTO CREDIT) Kassandra BlaisA tough second period was the difference in the Cape Breton Eagles loss to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in Game 2 of their Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League opening round playoff series in Baie-Comeau, Que., on Saturday.Baie-Comeau scored three times in a 12-minute span, including shorthanded and power play markers, on their way to a 5-2 victory over the Eagles at Centre Sportif Alcoa. Cape Breton hasn’t won a game in Baie-Comeau since the fall of 2022.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe Drakkar lead the best-of-seven series 2-0.Cape Breton allowed four breakaways in the contest, two of which resulted in goals against.Justin Gendron, Louis-Charles Plourde, Skogen Schrott, Samuel Boisvert and Anthony Lavoie netted goals for the Drakkar.Andrew Brown had both goals for the Eagles.Baie-Comeau’s Lucas Beckman made 32 saves. Cape Breton’s Alexis Cournoyer stopped 26 of 30 shots. Lewis Gendron of the Cape Breton Eagles, left, battles for the puck with Matyas Melovsky during Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoff action at Centre Sportif Alcoa in Baie-Comeau, Que., on Saturday. Baie-Comeau won the game 5-2 and lead the best-of-seven series 2-0. CONTRIBUTED/KASSANDRA BLAIS, BAIE-COMEAU DRAKKAR Kassandra BlaisEagles head coach Louis Robitaille liked his team’s start, but the turning point ultimately came in the middle stanza.“I thought in the first period we were really good, we had some good looks and got the lead,” said Robitaille. “I think it was an eight-minute period where we really struggled, the worst probably in the series so far. We reset in the third and we had some looks, but it was a little too late.”With Shawn Pearson in the box for roughing, Brown took advantage of a Matyas Melovsky turnover and wired a shot over the blocker of Beckman for his first career QMJHL playoff goal to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead on the power play at 7:49 of the first period.Later in the period, Cape Breton would find themselves down two men with Tomas Lavoie and Luke Patterson in the box, but the visitors would kill off the 5-on-3 power play, limiting the Drakkar to only one shot.Article contentThe Drakkar tied the game early in the second period with Gendron scoring his first of the playoffs on a shorthanded breakaway to make the score 1-1, before Plourde tapped home a Raoul Boilard rebound for his first of the playoffs to give Baie-Comeau a 2-1 lead on the power play.Cape Breton would dodge a bullet later in the frame with Brown taking Gendron down on a breakaway for a penalty shot. Gendron would not score on the opportunity.Baie-Comeau extended its lead minutes later with Schrott’s shot handcuffing Cournoyer to make the score 3-1, but the Eagles responded with Brown’s innocent shot finding the back of the net to cut the Drakkar lead to one going into the third period.The Drakkar regained the two-goal lead at 8:22 of the third period with Boisvert breaking through the Eagles defence and beating Cournoyer for his first goal of the playoffs. Anthony Lavoie sealed the deal with an empty net goal for his first of the playoffs in the final minute of regulation time.The Eagles had several offensive-zone faceoffs and chances during the third period but were unable to solve Beckman.Article content“Their best player was their goalie once again,” said Robitaille. “We had some looks, we missed the net, we’ll take a look at the video.”Brown, who joined the Eagles from the British Columbia Hockey League after the Christmas break, said he believes the club is dominating the majority of the play in the series, but not capitalizing on its opportunities.“They’re capitalizing on their chances, so we have to clean things up, but I still believe in this group,” said Brown. “I don’t think we need to change much, just cleaning up mistakes that they’re capitalizing on. Obviously, this goalie is hot right now, but he’s going to fold eventually.”Brown acknowledged his play both offensively and defensively in Game 2 but was more focused on the team aspect.“It doesn’t really matter because we lost the game,” said Brown. “I feel good out there, I feel like my offensive abilities are really showing, but it doesn’t really matter if we don’t get the win.”Cape Breton outshot Baie-Comeau 34-31 while going 1-for-5 on the power play. The Drakkar was also 1-for-5 with the man-advantage.Article content Cape Breton Eagles goaltender Alexis Cournoyer looks for the puck as teammate Brayden Schmitt, right, and Jules Boilard of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar battle for position behind him during Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoff action at Centre Sportif Alcoa in Baie-Comeau, Que., on Friday. CONTRIBUTED/KASSANDRA BLAIS, BAIE-COMEAU DRAKKAR Kassandra BlaisGAME 1On Friday night, Baie-Comeau’s Beckman was the story of the game.The 17-year-old was outstanding for the Drakkar, stopping 37 of 38 shots to lead his club to a 3-1 victory over the Eagles in Game 1.Schrott scored twice while Evan Courtois netted a single marker for the Drakkar.Angelo Fullerton recorded the lone goal for the Eagles.Cape Breton’s Cournoyer stopped 18 of 21 shots in his first career QMJHL playoff start.The Eagles outshot the Drakkar 38-21 while going 0-for-3 on the power play. Baie-Comeau was 0-for-1 with the man-advantage.The series will now shift to Cape Breton for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Start time for both games are 7 p.m., at Centre 200 in Sydney.SATURDAY GAME NOTES: Lucas Romeo (injured), Nathan Plouffe (injured), Carson Griffin (healthy) and Logan Quinn (healthy) were not in the lineup for Cape Breton.; Justin Poirier (injured), Alexis Bernier (injured), Alexis Michaud (injured), Drew Allison (injured) and Elliot Wright (healthy) were not dressed for Baie-Comeau.; Attendance for the game was 2,293. Three Stars: Beckman (1st), Justin Gendron (2nd) and Brown (3rd).Article content
QMJHL PLAYOFFS: Tough second period costs Cape Breton Eagles as team heads home trailing series to Baie-Comeau Drakkar
