QUEBEC CITY P.Q. — When taking a closer look at the QMJHL overall rankings, it gives us a better view at the different, exciting races that are going on. Teams are trying hard to get a better position in the standings in order to earn the right to begin each series on their own home ice instead of on the road.

Winning your division after 68 games in the regular season gives a team one of the top four positions in the playoffs. Earning the right to begin and ended a playoff series in your own building often means a lot to an organization that battles after a grueling regular season.

Here is the playoff format according to the QMJHL’s web site.

The sixteen (16) teams eligible for playoffs will be ranked in accordance with one of the following principles:

• The first four positions will be awarded in the order of points cumulated during the season to the teams that end the season at the top of their division;

• Amongst the teams ending last in their division, the two teams having cumulated the least number of points in the standings will be eliminated while the other two teams will be ranked fifteenth and sixteenth according to the number of points cumulated;

• Positions 5 through 14 are awarded to the remaining teams in order of the number of points cumulated during the regular season.

• Should the number of points cumulated be tied, the position is awarded by using Article 4.13.

• Such standings, called “Playoff Standings”, are used to determined opponents in each of the series as well as the team who will get ‘home-ice’ advantage.

The playoffs consist of best of seven series.

FIRST ROUND
In the first round of sixteen teams, series are played between teams in the same division, the team in first place playing the fourth and the team in second place playing the third. Should it occur that, in a given division, only three (3) teams be eligible for playoffs, the fourth (4th) position will be occupied by the team holding fifth (5th) place in a six-team division.

Should this situation occur in two divisions where there are only three (3) eligible teams, fourth (4th) place in each of these divisions will be taken by the teams ending fifth (5th) and sixth (6th) in the six-team division with the team in sixth (6th) place being placed against the team having cumulated the greatest number of points in the ‘Playoff Standings’ in either division.

QUARTER-FINAL 
Quarter-final series are played between the winners of the 16-team first round where first plays eight, second plays seventh, third plays sixth and fourth plays fifth.

SEMI-FINAL
Semi-finals are played by opposing the four winning teams of the quarter-finals, first playing fourth and second playing third.

PRESIDENT CUP FINAL
The Final is played between the winners of the semi-finals.

With less than 16 games left to play, nothing is really settled as far as where teams can finish in the overall rankings. For example, the Moncton Wildcats, Victoriaville Tigres, Drummondville Voltigeurs and Quebec Remparts are still involved in an exciting race for who end in second place right behind the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The result of each game for each of pre-mentioned teams will have some very important repercussions. With 81 points and 12 games left to play, the Wildcats have only a one point lead over the Tigres and Voltigeurs and only a four point lead over the Remparts.

Victoriaville (3^rd) and Quebec (5^th) in the overall ranking played respectively 58 games, Moncton (2^nd) and Drummondville (4^th) played respectively 56 games. If Moncton wins their two games in hand over Victoriaville and Quebec they can adds points in the rankings and strength their position. A couple of wins or losses for either team can have important significance for everyone.

Elsewhere in the league, you can also find sme other interesting battles. The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (ranked sixth) overall with 73 points and a four point lead over the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (ranked 7^th) with one game in hand over the Huskies. The Prince Edwards Island Rockets (ranked 8^th) trailed by only two points under the Screaming Eagles but have a three point leads over the Rimouski Oceanic.

The Shawinigan Cataractes are behind Rimouski by only one point but they have played in one more game than the Oceanic so they will have to hope for some help from some other teams in order to knock off Rimouski for eight place.

The Gatineau Olympiques and Montreal Junior are tied for 11^th place and have 55 points each but have three games in hand on Shawinigan.

The Chicoutimi Sagueneens (52 points), Val-d’Or Foreurs (48), Acadie-Bathurst Titans (46) and Lewiston MAINEiacs (43) look like they will make the playoffs unless all fall flat between now and the end of the season.

Baie-Comeau Drakkar and the Halifax Mosseheads (36 and 31 points) are engaged in a battle for the right to select first overall at the upcoming QMJHL entry draft.  

So wherever you are in the QMJHL you will certainly run the risk of getting great hockey games in the weeks to come. The race to make the playoffs is always exciting so the next couple of weeks so make for some exciting hockey.

Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com