Mooseheads embracing underdog role in Round 1

It’s playoff time in Halifax.

And once again, the Mooseheads are the underdogs in their first round series.

They open the QMJHL playoffs against Chicoutimi Friday night on the road.

The Sags finished second overall in the league with 103 points, Halifax was seventh in the East with 64 points.

Mooseheads Head Coach Brad MacKenzie says they’re ready for the challenge.

“We’re really excited. We’ve been preparing and getting our minds around this for the last month or so, so we’re excited and ready to go.” said MacKenzie.

He describes his teams’ season as ‘up and down.”

“We’re a young group, and had some tough times in the second half. We felt we deserved better at times. But the last month has been solid, and we’ve been consistent with our play. We’re pleased with steps we’ve taken.”

Halifax has experience with upsets, after knocking off top-ranked Drummondville last year.

MacKenzie says they’re taking it one game at a time.

“We need to be real good defensively, and try to lock it down as best as we can. We need to capitalize and have our special teams going, all of those elements are so important in the postseason.”

Game 2 is Saturday night, Games 3, 4 and 5 are at Scotiabank Centre Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

“We’ve got the best fans in the league,” said MacKenzie.

“We know the atmosphere is electric, and elevated come playoff time. We hope to have success in Chicoutimi so we have even more buzz and excitement.”