The influenza virus that entered the Remparts’ locker room a few days ago finally left the players alone on Saturday, on the eve of the start of the second-round series against the Rimouski Océanic.
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Of the nine players who suffered from it – including key pieces of the team like forward Zachary Bolduc – only winger Davis Cooper was still on the sidelines on Saturday and is expected to miss Sunday’s game at the Videotron Center, said head coach Patrick Roy.
“Question of cleaning up a bit”, the others all skated, at least briefly, during a training session held exceptionally on Saturday morning at the Arpidrome de Charlesbourg.
“We were lucky, acknowledged Roy. We managed as best we could. The team doctor now has his office [at the Videotron Center]!”
The first-round series against the Chicoutimi Saguenéens having ended in three games last Monday, the Remparts were able to take advantage of these few precious days off to get back on their feet.
A beneficial time off ahead of a showdown against a tenacious team that has defeated Memorial Cup hosts Saint John Sea Dogs in five games, even without some of its best players .
“Very good”
Despite the 29-point gap that separated the two clubs in the regular season – the Remparts finished first in the general classification and the Océanic, ninth – Patrick Roy believes that his players will have to be “very good” to overcome the protected by Serge Beausoleil.
The Red Devils pilot was also not surprised that Rimouski came out on top in his series against the Sea Dogs.
“We know that we are facing a very well directed and very well structured formation, he pointed out. We will have to manage the puck well. The Océanic have good-sized defenders and it’s up to you to find ways to get to the net.”
Roy hopes to build on what was done against the Saguenéens in the first round. “We will have to work well defensively and limit mistakes. [Against the Sea Dogs], the Oceanic generated offense on their errors, so we will have to avoid turnovers on the blue line.
Iacobo to start
Fabio Iacobo will be in goal on Sunday night. But it is not excluded that William Rousseau will also see action in the coming days, as was the case in the first round.
The second match of this three-of-five series will be played on Monday. The Remparts could again play two games in as many days, Thursday and Friday, if the series requires a fourth game.
“We decided to go with Fabio for the first game, but we expect it to be more of a committee of goalkeepers during the playoffs, as was the case during the season,” said coach- chief.
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