CHICOUTIMI — The scoreboard showed a 3-2 win for the Moncton Wildcats on Saturday night, but the real takeaway from this second matchup in a week between Chicoutimi and Moncton lies elsewhere. It’s in how two confirmed contenders are advancing — differently — toward the same goal.

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Even before puck drop, the Saguenéens spoke about maturity, consistency, and the ability to handle pressure. The Wildcats, on the other hand, saw the game as a learning opportunity. After 60 minutes, both perspectives remain valid — and complementary.

Chicoutimi: Pressure as identity

In Chicoutimi, pressure isn’t ignored. It’s embraced. Maxim Massé explained it plainly ahead of the game, describing a demanding yet motivating environment.

“We see it as a privilege. The arena is full every night, and you can feel that all of Saguenay is behind us,” he said.

This mindset is part of a broader structure: an experienced group used to high expectations. Even in defeat, Chicoutimi never strays from its identity, preferring to rely on its foundation rather than force the play.

For Yanick Jean, this stability stems from a culture built well before this season.

“The culture was created in the past and it’s healthy today. From there, it’s up to us to keep progressing as a team to be ready for the playoffs,” said the head coach, who was part of the last championship team in Saguenay in the 1993-94 season.

Moncton: Learning to win imperfectly

For the Wildcats, the approach is more pragmatic. The regular season is primarily a preparation ground for what really matters. Gardiner MacDougall makes no secret of it.

“The regular season is the laboratory that allows us to be ready come playoff time. We only get better by playing better opponents.”

On Saturday, Moncton experienced exactly that: resisting a late surge, accepting imperfection, and coming away with the win. A valuable lesson for a young but ambitious team.

“We learned some things and still managed to win,” added MacDougall, aware of the importance of these tight-game experiences.

Experience as common ground

Despite their differences, the two teams converge on one key principle: the value of experience. At Chicoutimi, Jordan Tourigny’s arrival reflects a desire to add seasoned depth to an already mature group.

“I’ve experienced winning — the Cup in my rookie year — I’ve experienced first-round exits the next two seasons, and losing a Game 7 in the semifinals last year. All of that is experience I keep in my back pocket,” explained the defenseman.

At Moncton, this role is represented by captain Caleb Desnoyers, who sees wins like Saturday’s as measured but meaningful progress.

“It’s a good confidence boost for the team,” he said, without overplaying the result.

Two paths, the same spring ahead

Chicoutimi relies on consistency and a well-established culture, while Moncton takes a more experimental approach, treating every big game as a testing ground. Two different methods, but a shared horizon.

Ultimately, this matchup didn’t redraw the LHJMQ hierarchy. It confirmed that both teams know exactly where they’re headed — and, more importantly, that they are building now for the moment when margins for error disappear.

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