David Perron and Pierre-Luc Faubert have waged a friendly race for the Lewiston Maineiacs’ playoff scoring title.

Perron, an 18-year-old rookie, has 23 points through 13 games. Faubert has the same.

But both are looking a long way up at the league leader, who happens to be coming to town this weekend with the Val d’Or Foreurs.

Marchand leads all players in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 35 points, better than two points per game.

“The team’s playing very well offensively right now,” Marchand said. “I’ve had a few lucky bounces onto my stick and everything, too. At the same time, my linemates are giving me wide-open nets and feeding me great passes.”

It helps, too, that Marchand, though only 18, is making his second consecutive trip to the league final. Last season, with Moncton, the young speedster won the President’s Cup and came within a game of capturing the Memorial Cup.

“Being able to go twice in a row, it’s a great opportunity,” Marchand said.

Marchand may be the hottest player on the Foreurs’ front line right now, but he isn’t the only one who concerns the Maineiacs.

“It’s hard to name everybody,” Maineiacs’ defenseman Sebastien Piche said. “They have a lot of good offensive guys. They are probably like us, with three or four good lines, so it’s going to be a game of mistakes.”

Mathieu Roy (22 points), Jerome Samson (21) and Felix Schutz (14) are all in double figures, too, giving Val d’Or some potent firepower going into the final series against Lewiston.

“We’re all producing, we’re all putting up points,” Marchand said. “The other day, (Marc-Andre) Cote got the game-winner, (Tuesday) night (Martin) Thibault got the game-winner, so all of the lines are producing right now. We just have to keep playing the way we are.”

With a great offense usually comes a great power play. In the playoffs, the Foreurs are 24 for 103 with an extra skater, good for a 23.3 percent clip, but not among the top five playoff teams.

The Foreurs know that has to change.

“Any time you get into the playoffs, the special teams are huge,” Marchand said. “The difference between winning and losing games.”

Among the Maineiacs, there is little doubt what they have to do to try and slow the Foreurs’ attack.

“We have to keep the puck,” Jodoin said. “They are a good team in transition. We have to be sure the puck is deep.”

That is easier said then done, considering two of the league’s top puck-moving defensemen – Kristopher Letang and Sebastien Bisaillon – also patrol the Foreurs’ blue line.

“It’s all out on the ice now,” Jodoin said. “Everything else to now, it means nothing. We have to play the game.”