CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The Charlottetown Islanders have played 68 regular season games and another nine in the pre-season.
Today, they start the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs in Quebec City against the Remparts at 4 p.m. Atlantic.
“We’ve been waiting for that moment (since) the beginning season,” Islanders captain Pierre-Olivier (P.O.) Joseph said Tuesday.
“At this point, you feel like it’s a do or die,” he added. “Nobody wants to leave, everybody wants to stay with each other and compete with each other and hopefully win and have the trophy at the end of the playoffs.”
While it is a new season the game doesn’t change.
“We don't have to overthink . . . the playoffs and put more pressure on us,” Joseph said. “It’s still the same game. The goal is still to win the hockey game, put the puck in the net and not to let them score (more) goals (than us).”
The Islanders left Thursday for Quebec City, practised Friday afternoon and the staff was expecting to make its final lineup Friday night with a fully healthy lineup to choose from.
Head coach Jim Hulton said it’s been a real professional group and he didn’t sense any giddiness about the post-season. He noted the team will leans on its experienced core, which includes Pascal Aquin, Cam Askew, Keith Getson and Joseph.
“Our leaders have played a ton of playoff games,” he noted. “They’re going to set the bar for the dressing room as they have all season. That’s reassuring to us because those guys are calm, cool and composed leaders and that’s going to filter down to the rest of the team.”
In an eight-versus-nine series there is usually not much to choose from. It is the case in this one.
The Islanders want to play a disciplined game and spend more time in the Remparts zone than their own.
“I really think one of the keys is going to be who can . . . stay patient and stick with their game plan the longest rather than getting anxious and start forcing the play,” Hulton said.
