Nothing a Goal or Twelve Won't Solve

Apparently, it was an offensively charged evening in the Maritimes last night.

First off, the 12-2 Cats victory at the Coliseum over Cape Breton... really, what can you say? It was one of those games where you knew the potential was there for it to be a blowout and the only questions were would the Cats take the foot of the gas and could it get ugly in areas other than the scoreboard? The answers were no and (minus one viewing of "The Jimmy Oligny Show" no.

Discussing the squad from CB with a fan from that area last night, the topic of how many MHL teams could beat the Eagles in a playoff series. Based on what I've seen from both the Jr.A ranks and Marc-Andre Dumont's crew, I figure at least six - probably even seven - MHL teams could win a best of 7 from that squad with varying degrees of difficulty (or lack thereof). It's an unfortunate situation for the fans in that neck of the woods, who will almost certainly see their team miss the playoffs for the first time ever (and the first time for the franchise in general since they were the Granby Bisons back in 1993) and even more frustrating for the kids on the ice. Honestly, at this point and time it can be very tough to beat the Eagles without embarrassing them... unless you bring the competitive edge down a notch. Tough situation to be in.

The Cats didn't bring their compete level down. However, the way they dictated the play was commendable. They basically threw the puck around when it got to a certain point in the game and although they continued to find twine, it was the likes of Conor Garland and Ryan Penny (both with hat tricks) providing the offence in the later stages as opposed to Dimitri Jaskin and Phillip Danault. When one good team is that on and one rebuilding team is that off, nights like this will happen. Take the two points and venture forward.

For the Cats, venturing forward means a jaunt to Rimouski and Quebec City this weekend. Friday night's game from the Colisee de Rimouski will be televised on Sportsnet. Channel your inner RJ Broadhead and tune in.

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That made it 22 home team goals within a few blocks radius as the Moncton Flyers got off on the right foot in their first round playoff series against Miramichi. Among the highlights in the Flyers' 10-4 victory was a five goal, six point effort from Joey Richard, a 6/10 success rate on the powerplay and a four goal third period that saw the home team finally pull away in what was up until that point a see-saw affair, the two teams heading for the dressing room after 40 minutes tied at six. This first to eight points series resumes tomorrow night in Miramichi.


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Meanwhile in Dartmouth, the Amherst Ramblers walked into the Sportsplex (that in itself was most likely a harrowing team effort) and trounced the Metro Shipbuilders 10-3. Now yes, this is the Shipbuilders, who have as many wins as what some teams manage in a week and a half (four, to be exact), but even this result adds to my theory that if I'm any team in the Eastlink Division, I'm not looking forward to potentially locking horns with the Rams in the postseason. Simply put, they're good. It's a different kind of "good" than last season as well. Whereas last season Jim Bottomley was trying to mold a talented team on paper into an outfit that he can get through to (which was alot easier said than done), now he has a group that are out for blood - and looking out for the greater good - every single night.

As impressive as certain now bygone names on that squad from last year were, one guy who remains epitomizes that Amherst team to a tee - Kody Orr. That kid should get serious consideration for league MVP. There are some players who do nothing great, yet do everything good. Orr goes everything great. Last night he had two goals, three assists and 14 PIMS. Really, it's a perfect microcosm of what he can bring to the table every night.

In a season during which the Caps and Bearcats and Mariners are the talk of the league, don't be surprised if this Amherst team finds a way into the finals. As tough as it will most likely be for the Commandos to face the Slammers in round one, I'd honestly rather it be them than the Ramblers as an initial test in a best of seven.

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Speaking of those Commandos, they hit the road on Friday, facing off against the Campbellton Tigers in a 7:30 start. In the process, Dieppe will look to go a perfect 7-0 against the Tigers this season while also looking to sow up at least third in the division (and stay in the race for second). On Sunday afternoon, it's back to the AJL to face the Miramichi Timberwolves, another team whom a) the Commandos have been perfect against this year and b) always seem to bring their "A" game against Dieppe. Please join us and watch what you've been missing.

Five Teams Not From Halifax That Could be a Handful Come Playoff Time

As the stretch drives rolls along in the Q, thoughts begin to turn towards the playoffs. With roughly ten games to go for all teams, those that have secured their place in the post season are no doubt keeping at least half an eye on potential first round opponents. I think the general consensus among anyone with either an affiliation or an affinity for the Q is that there are two groups of playoff teams entering the month of March - the Halifax Mooseheads, and everyone else. Let's take the Moose out of the equation for a moment as I also feel they appear to be in a class by themselves at this point. After them, I see five teams in particular of whom I would not want to face in these upcoming playoffs. For a variety of reasons, the following teams are - in my (very) amateurish estimation - quite capable of frustrating almost every potential opponent.

Rimouski Oceanic

Okay, this isn't exactly a shocker. However, there are three big reasons why Rimouski will be a team to watch this spring. A great combination of depth, systematic play and previous experience.

The highest profile guys on their roster are names you probably know already. Guys like Peter Trainor, Francis Beauvillier, Alexandre Lavoie and Kevin Gagne are known by most fans throughout the league. However, this team is capable of throwing out their fair share of additional talent, some of which gets overlooked. Guys like Scott Oke and Frederick Gauthier are having solid seasons, while on the back end Jan Kostalek and Maxime Gravel represent two of the more underrated blueliners in the league. Goaltending has been less than impressive at times, but Robin Gusse and Phillipe Desrosiers nonetheless give the 'Nics the luxury of a 1/1A goaltending tandem that could keep either netminder well rested and playoff ready come the third week of March.

Beyond that, however, is how this team comes together. I'll preface this by saying that the one time I had the chance to see them - two weeks ago in a 2-0 Oceanic win at the Coliseum - Rimouski looked like a beatable team. However, they also looked like a structured team (albeit one that failed to impress all that much). Of all the teams in the league, Serge Beausoleil's troops might possess the most controlled breakout plays. They aren't necessarily going to be up the ice in 2 passes and three strides like Halifax, but they will systematically push their way forward in any number of ways. They can move it up the wall. They can effectively execute the stretch pass up the middle. You may even know what's coming, but they stick to - and know - the system so much and so well it's still tough to defend against. They may not be as flashy as the Moose, but they are still very effective. It's this style that took them all the way to the finals last season. Speaking of which...

Despite more roster turnover than your standard issue contender (only six players on this year's squad were on the roster during the Q finals last spring), there are still key players (including Trainor, Beauvillier and Oke) who saw key minutes during that playoff run. In addition, Oke has a Memorial Cup ring in his back pocket thanks to his time spent with the Saint John Sea Dogs. Although you can make the argument that this sort of experience is more of an asset to pro teams, it can't be totally disregarded at this level, either.

Oh... and they play at one of  the toughest rinks for a visiting team in the league. During the depths of an emotional playoff series, the Colisee de Rimouski is not for the faint of heart.


Moncton Wildcats

If you've read this blog for any amount of time, you'll quickly come to the realization that I'm not what you'd call a "homer". Those who know me may even be surprised to see the Cats on this list. Well, they aren't here because I wanted to list five teams and this seemed like as good an idea as any. There are certain characteristics I see with this team that puts them on this list of potentially dangerous playoff opponents.

First off, let's talk about the unpredictable. I've been saying it all season long... you do not know what team is going to come out through that big cat from one night to the next. However, since New Year's (a couple hiccups notwithstanding) this team has been able to improvise, adapt and overcome even when not playing their best. Saturday night against PEI was only the most recent example. They trailed the entire way, they had difficulty stringing a breakout pass together for stretches and when they did, PEI had the neutral zone clogged to death. There was so much red between the bluelines, it looked like a murder scene. No matter. A strong third period, forcing the play along the wall, a more effective dump and chase and a fortunate call late and suddenly, the Cats win in OT and Gordie Dwyer is putting composite to board in frustration. I don't care if it was an ugly win against an eighth place team, it was how they found a way that impressed. The swing of unpredictable play has shifted from "either really great or really bad" to "either really great or still good enough to win with a tweak here or there".

Secondly, Bob MacKenzie made a comment during last season's first round series between second place Boston and seventh place Washington. "Beware the team with the bad regular season record". Of course "bad" was a subjective term in that example... much like it is in this. That being said, it still rings true. Both the Caps and the Cats sputtered early on in the season - in the case of Washington, it cost Bruce Boudreau (former NB Hawk might I add) his job. In Moncton, it just caused alot of PO'd people. However, that Caps team picked the best time of the year to put it all together. They battled down the stretch to make the postseason before riding that momentum past the B's in seven games all the way to within a goal of a trip to the conference finals. This Moncton team reminds me alot of that Washington team. The talent is there... the experience is there... all that needs to happen now is for the stars to properly align. It's not as big a stretch as you might think.

Lastly, I've been saying one thing about this team all year long. Win or lose, for better or for worse, I like this team's odds with the staff behind the bench. I've seen too much success from Danny Flynn, Fabien Joseph and Darryl Seward to be skeptical of them now. These guys think on their feet with the best of them at this level and so long as they can get the message through to the guys on the bench, they will more often than not find a way to win.

Just start beating the Moose with more regularity, okay guys? And maybe the Sea Dogs, too... it's just getting ridiculous now.


PEI Rocket

It's been a while since I've been able to put the words "Rocket", "playoffs" and "threat" in the same sentence (except for when the team is a threat to miss the playoffs) so I'm taking advantage of it now. It's not a frivolous exercise, either. If I were most teams in the league, these guys would cause me concern.

There's enough offensive skill up front to force mistakes and stretch the ice out. It's not all Duffy and Currie, either. Guys like Louick Marcotte and Victor Provencher have put up quietly successful campaigns. Add in Yan-Pavel Laplante - finally back after a serious training camp injury and, for my money, the best player on Coliseum ice for the Rocket last weekend - and there's a group of guys up front that runs a bit deeper than it's top two forwards would lead you to believe.

On the blueline, there is plenty of skill mixed with grit. At first glace, it may not be a star studded back end but I ask this: if you were a player in the Q, would you find it an easy challenge to go up against a quartet of Jimmy Oligny, Tomas Pavelka, Troy Vance and Alex Micalef? If you say "no", you're kidding yourself. These are four guys that can come to kill you in a variety of ways. And if you get past them, you have Antoine Bibeau or Maxime Lagace. To be honest, I would be less excited at the prospect of facing Bibeau. Of the two, he's proven the most (for me at least) that when he's on, he's a very frustrating guy to play against.

Most importantly however is the direction in which this team is headed. Simply put, the Rocket finally have direction. That direction is forward. Gordie Dwyer has got his guys buying in to his systems and though it's not pretty at times (once again, refer to Saturday night at the Coliseum), it's more often than not effective. Out of the 10 editions of the PEI Rocket that I've seen, this is the one that feels the most like a team. Very little individual play. More controlled than ever. And, not coincidentally, successful. Hopefully for the fans in Charlottetown, this success is built upon in the post-season.


Val d'Or Foreurs

Ever watch the Q plays of the week on the league website? I recommend you do. Not only to hear Ray The Sports out of Quebec or that crazy singing play by play guy in Rouyn-Noranda. Check and see how many times the Val d'Or Foreurs make the highlight reel. It happens alot. And they make it look easy.

This team is scary good offensively. In a season in which seemingly everything is all Drouin and MacKinnon and Jaskin, Anton Zlobin and Anthony Mantha are plying their trade with less fanfare up in the Abitibi region. It's not just them, either. The Henley boys (Samuel and Cedrick) as well as Vincent Dunn keep showing opponents night in and night out why they are among the toughest guys in the league to play against. Oh, and since his trade out of Bathurst, Brandon Hynes has averaged well over a point a game with the Foreurs. Like I said, scary good.

It's not just that, however. This is a surprisingly well balanced, physical team. Guillaume Gelinas, Artem Sergeev and Randy Gazzola and Loik Poudrier bring a fine mix of offensive skill, grit and - in the case of Sergeev and Gazzola, at least - size. And much like Rimouski, they posses a solid - if not star studded - goaltending tandem in Francois Tremblay and Phillipe Trudeau. As utterly impressive as the offensive showcase has been at the Centre Air Creebec all season long, it's the fact that this team can also leave a very physical mark on it's opponent that makes them the sort of team opponents won't exactly be lining up to face come late March.


Victoriaville Tigres

Sounds crazy, eh? The Tigres are in 11th place. They sold off two of their key components in Phillip Danault and Troy Vance at the deadline. Why do they make the list? It's all because of two guys.

The first person is Brandon Whitney. Want to know how many games this guy has won for his club so far this year? 24 (out of 27 for the Tigres as a whole, I might point out). How many of those wins did he play a huge role in obtaining? Quite a few, friends and neighbors... quite a few. Of all the goalies in the league, with the exception of Zach Fucale and perhaps Etienne Marcoux, he's the one I'd least like to face in the playoffs. He's big. He plays big. When he's on his knees, he still covers about as much of the net as a number of goalies do while standing. In a year in which the big name goalie isn't as prevalent in the Q, he's the guy that I feel is most capable of stealing a series all by himself.

The second person is Yannick Jean. To get a greater idea of my regard for the bench boss in Victo, click here. The guy has come a long, long way since his baptism by fire in PEI. He's grown up, he's learned alot and he's now the kind of coach who - much like a Danny Flynn or a Patrick Roy - has the wherewithal to both do the homework and make the in game adjustments required to get the absolute most out of his club. Speaking of getting the most, have you seen his roster? With all due respect to the Victoriaville lineup, it's not exactly an all-star cast (save their goaltender). Yet there they are, sellers at the deadline, still hanging in there around the middle of standings, not going away on any given night. You have to respect a club like that... and more importantly, you have to tread carefully if locked in a best of 7 with them.


For all those looking at the Moose and immediately seeing little in the way of excitement in this year's post season, I say look beyond first place. You just might find a team or two that'll surprise you - and everyone else, for that matter.

   

Noone Said it Had to be Pretty

Look away, I'm hideous!

Lots of catching up to do... let's start with last night and work our way forward.

First off, the Wildcats' 4-3 OT win over PEI. Let's just say it wasn't the prettiest win you'll ever see. After strong, consistent execution against Drummondville on Friday night, things just seemed off against the Rocket. Puck movement and support weren't as crisp and the Rocket were winning more battles for loose pucks. The fact that Moncton never lead in this game until the OT winner should the tale of how things went down. Sure, there were some great individual performances (including perhaps Philip Danault's best game as a Cat thusfar) however, I felt the Rocket outplayed Moncton, although not by a wide margin. PEI held the edge in time of possession but were not given many passing/shooting lanes while Moncton, obviously the more skilled of the two clubs, were sloppy on the breakout for stretches and too many passes were bouncing off sticks (or skates).

I'll say this much for the Cats, however. This felt like one of those games where more often than not, they tend to lose their focus due to timely goals from the opposition, issues with the officials or both. I found this game to be alot greasier than the scoresheet would lead you to believe. In particular, the abuse heaped upon Conor Garland and Dimitrij Jaskin last night that went unpenalized was pretty ridiculous. I know Jaskin has the habit of embellishing... but last night he was going down honestly in my opinion. I think teams are quickly figuring out that they can get away with more against the Czech star... largely because Jaskin is building a less than favorable reputation in the eyes of the zebras. Back to this game in particular, the non-calls on both sides simply added to what felt like a sloppy game to begin with. All that being said, the call on Rocket goalie Antoine Bibeau with seconds remaining in regulation was a very gutsy - and correct - one to make. The Cats may not have been full marks last night, but that was a legitimate penalty... no matter how many sticks Gordie Dwyer chooses to smash.

Long story short, two points are two points and at this point in the season points in the standings take precedence over points for style. Good teams find a way... the better team found a way last night at the Coliseum.

Unfortunately for the Dieppe Commandos, a good team also found a way to win last night at Amherst Stadium as the Ramblers walked away with a 6-5, come from behind shootout victory. The Rams - a team that should rightfully put a scare into any opponent in the upcoming MHL playoffs - went back and forth most of the night with their visitors to no avail. Shane Dallaire's second of the game put the Commandos up 5-3 just past the midway part of the third and all appeared to be going in Dieppe's direction. Alas, it was not to be as once the game reached the latter stages the Commandos let their foot off the gas, the Rams very much put the pedal to the metal and by the time the buzzer sounded to bring the end to the third, extra time was required. In spite of the success the Commandos have achieved this year, there are certain times when they still seem to have to "learn to lose". Last night was an example of that. That being said, with the club still in the thick of a battle for second place (and home ice in round one of the MHL playoffs), that one lost point probably feels like 10 points lost for Jeff Leblanc and crew.

Today's contest at the AJL against Campbellton was much like the Cats/Rocket tilt last night - not the sort of thing masterpieces are made of. That's not to say Dieppe played particularly sloppy... they were actually full marks in the first period, roaring out to a 3-1 lead. However, as the game wore on, the execution seemed to tail off. When it didn't tail off, Tigers netminder Jeremy Gallant was there with a handful of outstanding stops. It was one of those games where it felt like Dieppe did their due diligence, played fundamentally sounds, but didn't exactly go for the jugular, winning 4-1 but in as boring a fashion as I've seen from this team in a while.

When you're involved in a mundane, defense-first battle - as this was for the last 50 minutes or so - the game usually comes down to who makes the most mistakes. Therefore, the need to make the low percentage play, to support the puck when coming out of your zone and cutting off the lanes and angles in your own zone become magnified. From this standpoint, the Commandos got all they needed from three dmen who specialize in just this style of play. The trio of Mathieu Martin, Joslin Gallant and Jeff Krichew aren't going to be mistaken for Shea Weber or Zdeno Chara anytime soon. However, when it comes to doing the oft-referred to "little things" that can mean the difference between two points and none, these are among the most consistent guys on the roster. This afternoon was much of the same. Smart plays and support along the wall, keeping the puck away from the middle, playing physical (but clean) down low and in the corners... these three did it all this afternoon. If you ever wondered what a defensive dman brings to a team when their execution is on, get a copy of the video of today's game at the AJL and you'll probably figure it out.

This week the Cats face a young - six 16 year olds in the lineup young, to be exact - Screaming Eagles squad at the Coliseum on Tuesday night before hitting the road for two in the province of Quebec. On Friday night, Sportsnet will be bringing all the action to your TV screen as Moncton faces the formidable (but beatable... remember that, guys) Rimouski Oceanic on Friday night and the Quebec Remparts at the ultra fun arena known as the Colisee Pepsi on Saturday night. Another week, another test for this Moncton squad that has people still guessing from one game to the next.

As for the Commandos, they'll be looking to go a perfect 7-0 against the Tigers (and an absurd 20-0 against teams below them in the standings) on Friday night in Campbellton before making their way back home on Sunday afternoon (possibly the last Sunday afternoon of the season barring what happens in the playoffs... wouldn't bother me if it was) to face the Miramichi Timberwolves as the list of important games for positioning in the standings just keeps going on. Depending on other goings on this weekend (Miramichi plays Summerside on Friday), this game could nail down at least third place for the Commandos, thus avoiding a first round matchup with that OHL team posing as a Jr.A squad, the Summerside Western Capitals.

One more thing... watching the Pens/Lightning game... and I have to ask; do the Penguins have to wear those dark blue retro jerseys every second game (like they seem to be lately)? Are these now the new regular home sweaters and I was just unaware? The only thing I think about when I see these is that horrible winter classic against Washington, a game rife with slush passing as ice (you only thought the Moncotn Coliseum had crap ice), sloppy play (thanks largely to said slush) and Crosby's concussion. Not exactly warm and fuzzy memories for any fan of the game.

Wildcats Victory #36, in Which the Shot Clock Tells You Absolutely Nothing About the Game

7-2 win for the Cats over Drummondville last night... a game that was all about quality rather than quantity. How many times does a team hold the advantage in territorial play, quality chances and overall momentum and win by five... but get outshot 29-26? If you counted the shots that just went wide on Moncton's part, you'd probably have a total closer to 50 rather than 26... and probably a score in the double digits. That's how good the Cats were last night.

Dimitrij Jaskin came back and decided to let everyone know it. A goal and two assists - the goal being something that I think I've only seen previously as a glitch in NHL '94, where the puck somehow squeaked between the base of the post and the seemingly well positioned skate of Volts netminder Dominic Graham.

It was also one of those games where it felt like all four lines could've - and should've - scored. It seemed like every time the fourth line was out there, the puck absolutely refused to leave the zone... or even the area beyond the hash marks. The sustained pressure from Stephen Johnson, Lucas Batt and that adorable little Conor Garland fellow was a treat to witness.

Now to take a moment to again gush about #8 on the Cats, who last night played his second game since coming back from a broken finger. When he first arrived, I think alot of people were under the impression that although he was obviously skilled, opponents would figure out how to contain him rather quickly. After all, he's small, he's 16 and he's largely condemned to the fourth line on a team ripe with offensive talent. Here we are two months later and that hasn't actually happened... and I'm inclined to believe it won't. What Conor Garland lacks in size and strength, he makes up for in outstanding offensive awareness and poise. When you're that small, even when you get knocked down, you tend to get up very quickly and regain your focus on the puck and the play. As seen last night, if you take him down, you better hold him down (and try not to take the ensuing penalty) because he's going to find a way back in the play immediately. If he can add a few inches to his frame (out of his control, of course) and gain some muscle (which is more in his control), it would not surprise me to see this kid put 100 points up in a season. I tend not to crow about a younger, still fairly unproven player like this, but I watch him right now and just can't see anything but a dynamic, successful, David Desharnais-type force on this team over the next few years.

As great as it was to see Jaskin and Garland make their way back into the lineup this week, another returnee in recent times deserves a mention as well. If a player accumulated points for doing the little things that don't show up on the scoresheet but win games nonetheless, Mark Tremaine would be challenging for the team scoring lead. The old adage on defensive defensemen has long been "If you don't notice them, they're doing their job". The same can be applied to defensive forwards in a sense as well. This team simply plays more responsible overall with #7 on the left side each game. His overall awareness is amazing. He checks his man, his positioning is usually spot on, he plays the angle and closes gaps and lanes as efficiently as most defensemen and he's quietly strong with the puck. You often hear coaches and analysts say "you win games with guys like that" and to the untrained ear, it may sound like something to say about a player of which you can't say a whole lot about but you have to say something. In actuality, it's true. Mark Tremaine plays a big (albeit understated) part in winning games for the Moncton Wildcats. Not by putting up huge numbers or going for the big hit or being all flash and dash. He helps you win by simply being a consistent stabilizing force. That Dickie's "hardest worker" award that the team gives after each game this season? It was devised with guys like Mark Tremaine in mind.

One final note on last night; I don't know who picked the three stars (I'm willing to bet either Neil Hodge or Stephane Paquette) but whomever did made a very wise decision by handing one over to Alex Dubeau. So often in one-sided games, a very good goaltending performance gets overlooked. Last night, Dubeau kept this game from perhaps playing into the hands of the visiting team on at least two occasions. There are times when the big save means the difference between victory and certain defeat. There are other times when it simply allows that goalie's team to regain momentum that was otherwise slipping away. Dubeau as much as any other player on the ice last night ensured the latter for his team.

Back at it tonight... this time the PEI Rocket come to town. I could easily see the result from last night duplicating itself... PEI and Drummondville are similar teams, I find (although the Rocket are more top heavy offensively). Then again, it's the Rocket... and we all know how much fun (re:agonizing) many of the encounters between these two clubs have been over the last couple seasons. This is one of those games where I really feel the Cats will miss a guy like Ross Johnston (who's saga I will give my take on at a later date since it's being talked about to death in recent times) and/or Kyle Haas. The Rocket - thanks to the leadership of Gordie Dwyer - have that ability to find momentum in a number of ways. They can score the big goal, receive the big save or engage in the big fight. Much like every other game between these two teams since the beginning of the 2010-2011 season, I'll not predict anything other than to say the game will be played tonight at 7 at the Coliseum and I'll probably come close to breaking my neck in that building's treacherous parking lot once again.

Meanwhile in Dieppe, the Commandos served up some food and some fun at their annual auction last night. It's the biggest fundraising event of the year for the team and if you're ever able to make it out (as ironically I wasn't last night) do yourself a favor and buy a ticket for it. The auction items are diverse and the money raised goes towards an organization that truly deserves it. As well, if you're inclined to go in an upcoming year, plan in advance. This year's event was sold out (which also explains why I didn't mention it earlier). Here's hoping this year's auction was a successful as those from previous years.

The Commandos will now go back to (hopefully) serving up some exciting action on the ice for the remainder of the weekend. Tonight it's a visit to Amherst for a game against a Ramblers squad that has quietly hung in with the stronger teams in the MHL this season. Jimbo and Co. sport a 30-10-4-2 record going into tonight's action as well as seven wins in their past 10, keeping them within striking distance of the Eastlink Division leading Yarmouth Mariners. For Dieppe, they'll be charged with the task of not only staying in the rear view mirror of the Woodstock Slammers in the race for second place in the Meek Division, but also trying to avenge a 10-5 loss to the Rams just after New Year's in which defensive stability was not their friend and the dasher boards at the Stadium - not to mention some of the crowd in attendance that night - were not Mathieu Newcomb's fans after the rookie forward received a rousing cheer upon breaking his nose. To be more accurate, the doctor that treated Newcomb in the dressing room got the cheer after being summonsed on the PA system. I guess one should never overlook the opportunity to applaud the work of a professional, no matter how tasteless it may seem.

Just Another Day in the Life

I was away from the rink last night while the Cats and Titan did battle when at 8:08 PM I received a text message from a friend of mine. It told me all I needed to know about the game:

"obrien took a penalty"

Oh and the Cats won 5-1, Connor Garland - who's very fun to watch, in case you've forgotten - scored in his first game back from a broken hand, Julien Belliveau traded his Commandos sweater for a those of the Cats and got his first taste of major junior action this season and Danick Emond kept that high octane offensive game against Bathurst alive by scoring his second goal in as many games against the Titan (which also happens to be his second goal of the year).

But it was three individual events  that took place to gave this contest a bit more notoriety.

First off, Chris Lalonde potted a pair of goals. That makes it 24 for the right winger. An amazing 20 of them have come after December 1st. Seven have come against the first place Mooseheads. Three have come on national TV. Last night's performance also puts him into third place on the team behind Dimirtij Jaskin and Yannick Veilleux in the goals scored category. Raise your hand if saw any of this coming this season... and if your arm is raised, all I can say is this: put your damned hand down you lying SOB! I expected an improvement from #94, but this season has been a very pleasant surprise.

Secondly, if you want a good, serviceable affiliate dman who you can get a couple bucks off of, give Cameron MacDonald a call. The 19 year old Amherst Rambler mainstay was plagued by a concussion much of last season, something that in part probably cost him a spot on the Wildcats this year. His luck definitely changed for the better yesterday when he was called up to the Cats (who were without, among others, Jonathan Narbonne), played a very strong positional game from all accounts and somewhere in the middle, won $5000 on Roll Up The Rim! Speaking as a guy who's idea of a good coffee/hockey day would consist of a decent parking spot at the Coliseum and a free donut, you have to tip your hat to the kid.

Lastly...

 It's like a friggin picture of the Loch Ness Monster on a date with Sasquatch. Although I do agree with the sentiments of one messageboard poster who hoped the streak would end with O'Brien getting in a fight during the last game of the season.

Speaking of things that don't happen everyday, the Buffalo Sabres now have a head coach not named Lindy Ruff. 15 1/2 years, 170 NHL coaching changes, two lockouts and 47 Flyers goalies after he was hired, today was the end of the line for the guy that - in the early days - I referred to Yosemite Sam. Of course, in the early days, I was in Grade 11 and was just getting accustomed to the notion of driving a car (I'm now almost as close to my 20 year reunion as I am far away from my 10 year). To put it even further into perspective, I would not meet my future wife for another four years (we've now been married for 7-1/2 years). The Wildcats was just coming off it's first season under Robert Irving's ownership. Miro Satan led the Sabres in scoring during Ruff's first season behind the bench (with a disgustingly low 46 points) while Dominik Hasek was winning Hart and Vezina Trophies and was many years away from winning Stanley Cups, being washed up and assaulting opponents in roller hockey leagues. Oh, and I found out about this firing via twitter. I found out about his hiring from an archaic form of communication called a "newspaper". Couldn't find out online... it tied up the phone line too much.

I'll jump on the bandwagon of those who have already stated that Ruff will be rehired in quick succession and will thrive wherever he goes. On a more personal level, I just finished reading the book "Sudden Death", which retells the tale of the tragic bus crash that claimed the lives of four member of the Swift Current Broncos back in 1986. Brent Ruff, Lindy's little brother, was one of the fatalities. From a horrific event of that nature, to losing a Cup on what was a controversial goal (stupid rule, but controversial goal), it's time Lindy got a winning break in hockey somewhere. For a guy who's always come across as an honest, hard working guy who more often than not got the best results out of some less than stellar Sabres teams, watching on as Ruff hoists the Stanley Cup at some juncture would definitely be a sight I'd like to see.

Moving back to the Cats, Ross Johnston's fate still hangs up in the air. At the moment, the Moncton forward is suspended indefinitely. I think it was a consensus feeling that the longer it took to review the process, the harsher the suspension would be. However, the incident between him and Brian Lovell has gone very viral over the last couple of days. Accidental or not, the play is now starting to paint the QMJHL in a very negative light. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, this could end up affecting the league's decision (assuming it wasn't going to be a lengthy one to begin with). No matter what your take on the situation, you have to appreciate what the league is doing by taking as much time as possible to review the play and not rush to a judgement. To do that takes a high level of patience and understanding of what the importance of their decision symbolizes.

Moncton gets one player back from suspension on Friday in the form of Dimitrij Jaskin. He'll be back in time to face the club that recently halted the Cats' nine game winning streak, the Drummondville Voltigeurs. In a game between one contender and one surprising success story this year, it has the makings of an entertaining show.

Now, to see if Lucas Grundy can go out and score six goals tonight to give me something to write about tomorrow...

Wouldn't Be Monday Without a Random Blog Post

Just a bunch of crap (both good and bad) in no particular order... not unlike most of these posts but at least I'm announcing it beforehand for a change.

- I don't think I'll ever get tired of watching either Alex Galchenyuk or David Desharnais. And if you're watching this Habs/Canes game, please tell me when Therrien chloroformed Cam Ward and stuck his gear on Vesa Toskala?

- Congrats to Zack Cahill on second star honors in the MHL this week. It's not often a star selection is warranted based on a single game... but it's also not very often a player at this level puts up a six point night. That's exactly what the Commandos right winger did in Bridgewater on Friday. That makes it three straight weeks in the three star selections for the Commandos, with three different players turning the trick (Robbie Graham last week, Alex Murray the week before that). 

- Also of note, Kyle Morrison was named first star for the third straight week. The Bearcats forward has been simply dominant since the beginning of the month, accumulating 23 points in 7 games dating back to February 2nd. This scoring spree has brought him from as far as 10 points back in the scoring race to a comfortable lead atop the board, six points ahead of the Caps Danny Chiasson.

- You want the definition of "insult to injury"? After losing in double OT in Wolfville last night to end their season, the U de M Aigles Bleus took a grueling four and a half hours to get back to campus... then had to dig their way out of the JLL parking lot. How can you not feel for a bunch of guys after something like that?

- The decision on Ross Johnston's stick swinging incident in Halifax Saturday night should be rendered tomorrow at some point. No matter what happens, one team is probably not going to be happy. The Moose most likely feel it was a deliberate action, as does much of the Halifax media and any number of fans, who have been dissecting the video like the Zapruder film. The Cats will undoubtedly view it as accidental and with any luck get Johnston back in the lineup after what will undoubtedly be a multi-game suspension no matter what happens. What makes this a tricky situation is that it seems as if it will be hard to definitively prove malicious intent. Either way, the odds of seeing the big Wildcat winger in the lineup this weekend at the very least will be extremely low. You can argue intent all day long, but recklessness is a no-brainer in this instance.

- Finally, this popped up on my twitter feed this evening, courtesy of Sheldon Keefe. His  Sault Greyhounds won 10-7 over Kingston on Saturday. It made me chuckle... and will probably make alot of coaches do the same (and/or nod in agreement).

I’ll pass.“@ohlhoundpower: Start your week off by watching all 17 goals from Saturday’s win over Kingston - soogreyhounds.com/video/index”
— Sheldon Keefe (@SheldonKeefe) February 18, 2013

I never really had Keefe pegged as a "dry humor" sort of guy, but there ya have it.

Farewell to Nova Scotia (Thank God)

This place = apparently not all hospitality and lighthouses.

So Nova Scotia squads kicked two local teams square in the nether regions last night. To be honest, the two losses weren't the most surprising things in the world as the host teams in both scenarios are more talented on paper (and were looking for revenge after recently dropping previous games to their visitors)

The Moncton Wildcats have proven that they can compete with the Halifax Mooseheads. If they bring their "A" game, there's no reason why they can't run neck and neck with the Moose. The problem with Moncton for much of the season has been consistency  From game to game, period to period, shift to shift you just don't know what you're getting. Last night's result? A 2-0 lead blown, a lethargic final half of the game for the visitors and the inability to stop the bleeding once the Moose came alive. That game is probably the best example I've seen this year as to why Halifax is - as of right now, anyway - the favorites to win it all. No team can capitalize on mistakes like them (see Martin Frk goal) or collapse down low with such a high degree of success (see Darcy Ashley goal #2). The biggest difference between the two teams that skated out onto Metro Center ice last night? One team has the invaluable ability to recognize a loss in momentum and respond in kind.

For the Cats, they get a crack at the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Tuesday night. This will mark the final game of the Dimitri Jaskin suspension... and perhaps the first game of Ross Johnston's. The Moncton forward swung his stick into the face of Moose dman Brian Lovell last night and in the process, broke Lovell's jaw. Looking at the reply, I'm inclined to believe Willy Pavlov's theory that the stick got stuck in the glass and Johnston, in the process of wrenching it free, inadvertently cranked his opponent with it. No penalty was assessed on the play and if a suspension is forthcoming (Moose brass has sent in the tape), I'd expect it to be no more than a game or thereabouts for some degree of carelessness on Johnston's part. Unlike the Jaskin incident last Monday night against Rimouski, I saw no ill intent on that play.

About three hours south of the Metro Center, the Yarmouth Mariners played host to the Dieppe Commandos and won both the game and a measure of revenge against their visitors, atoning for an OT loss at the AJL last weekend with a 3-0 victory last night. The Mariners, still within striking distance in the race for first overall in the MHL standings, got things started early... 21 seconds into the match, to be exact. After spending long stretches of their last meeting in Dieppe on the perimeter, the Mariners did a better job of penetrating the higher scoring areas in front of Connor Wilkinson by all accounts. In fact, Wilkinson was one of the key reasons why the game remained close at times. Credit the Commandos for hanging in as much as possible as they continue to keep most of their games close - particularly road games against the powerhouses of the MHL.

Dieppe resumes action next Saturday night... again on the road... again versus a formidable opponent. This time, it's a date with the Amherst Ramblers at the good old Stadium, aka "the building that cheers when visiting teams need medical attention". Welcome to "The Jungle", indeed.

How will Nova Scotia treat the locals tonight? The U de M Aigles Bleus hope it's very favorably. Les Aigles take to the ice at 7PM in Wolfville as the hometown Acadia Axemen look to take the deciding game of their opening round playoff series. U de M took the first game of this series on the road Wednesday night, scoring timely goals and relying on an unbelievable performance from Andre Guay. If the visiting team has any say in the matter, they'll try to rely more on the former and much less on the latter tonight.

Finally, if you have been riding out this latest storm by watching the just completed Penguins/Sabres game, congratulations. Not only did you get to hear the rare treat that is Gord Miller on NBC, you probably just witnessed some of the best hockey that will be played this season at any level.

A Tale of Two Teams

Last night, two of Moncton's local hockey teams were on the road facing competition that currently sit far below them in the standings. For both clubs, this game was to be followed the next night (aka, tonight) by one of their tougher tests of the season. Road games against two of the best teams their respective leagues had to offer. For both clubs - still trying their best to jockey for positions in the standings heading into the playoffs - it would be very easy to look past the records of their opponents in game one and get caught focusing too much on the task at hand in game two. So... what happened, you may ask? Let's start with the good news.

That means, we start by discussing the Dieppe Commandos. Or, to be more accurate, how the Commandos annihilated their competition last night, defeating Bridgewater 11-1. Zack Cahill and his six points (including his second four goal game against the Lumberjacks this season) led the charge, barely outscoring Robbie Graham (two goals, three assists) and Joel Blanchard (goal, three assists). All but three players on the Dieppe roster tallied at least one point in helping the club to it's 24th victory of the season. All this overshadowed another strong outing from Alex St-Arnaud, his 29 save effort earning him his third victory with the Commandos this year.

One aspect of the game that is often cited but easy to overlook is that all teams should do their very best to defeat the clubs below them in the standings in order to both stay competitive in the overall standings as well as to not take any opponent for granted. This is especially true for a mid-pack team like Dieppe, for whom the so-called "easy" two points could mean the difference between a first round date with the Woodstock Slammers or the much tougher Summerside Western Capitals. As well, two points could mean the difference between home ice in round one of the playoffs. In this regard, no squad in the MHL has taken greater advantage of teams lower than them in the standings. The 7th place Commandos have run the table so far this season against teams 8-11 in the overall standings (Miramichi, Campbellton, Bridgewater and Metro respectively) to the tune of 18-0. I don't think I've ever seen a run quite like this in any league before... but if it continues for the next three weeks, it could easily mean second place in the Meek Division for Dieppe. Of the seven games left in the regular season, four are against Miramichi and Campbellton (two each). How they fare in those four contests - plus one more crucial outing against Woodstock on March 5th - could make all the difference in where Jeff Leblanc's crew finishes the regualr season... and where they get to start the playoffs.

I've said it on here numerous time before and really, I'm not going to shut up about it (because that's just not me)... if you haven't seen this Commandos team in action, get to one of the three regular season games remaining at the AJL or make your way to a playoff game. This team has played some of the most consistently exciting hockey in the city the last two months. I sincerely mean it when I say you don't know what you're missing (and trust me... if you weren't missing anything I'd let you know).

Speaking of not missing anything, let's talk about the game in Saint John last night.

Is there nothing about this latest string of games for the Wildcats that hasn't been confusing and/or frustrating? As this season goes on, the common reaction to this club is that they can win the league... but there's a ton of emphasis on the word "can". They also "can" lose in round one (thank god the Sea Dogs are far enough down the standings that they most likely won't be a potential first round opponent for Moncton). I've resigned myself to one of two things when it comes to personal perspective on this team. Either a) I will never for the life of me figure out what this team is all about or b) I already know and am seriously trying to convince myself otherwise. Great teams are consistent. Losses are isolated incidents. Continuously frustrating or lackluster performances simply don't occur. If one player is out of the lineup - even if they're the best player on the team - the rest pick up the slack and find a way. And they also beat the teams they should beat.

To put this in perspective, Moncton currently sits in fifth place, ten points behind the fourth place Baie-Comeau Drakkar. if you take just half of the points the Wildcats have lost to PEI and Saint John this season and tack it onto their current overall record, they sit just two points out of fourth... with three games in hand. If they run the table against those two teams (unrealistic I know... but humor me just this once), they are breathing down Halifax's necks, just five points out (the Mooseheads would hold one game in hand). It's this aspect of the club more than anything that drives me nuts. They can and have beaten Halifax (takes one hell of an effort, but it's doable)... they can beat Blainville and Quebec and Baie-Comeau. Based on how Rimouski looked Monday night, they can beat them as well. If Moncton faces any of these clubs in a deep playoff round, it should prove to be an outstanding series. But if they have difficulty making it out of round one, it could also prove to be a moot point.

I also want to stress that I hate making posts like this. When they lose a game like last night's, it makes me shake my head and to be honest, it's disappointing  If I'm frustrated, I can only imagine what the team feels like. I've been following and/or working for this team for 18 seasons and wish nothing but success for them. I also want them to prove everything I've said this year wrong... but the part that bugs me the most is that time is slowly running out for them to be able to do that.

Moncton heads to Halifax tonight to tangle with the Mooseheads. Which Wildcats team will skate through the zamboni entrance at the Metro Center tonight? Like everyone else, I won't know until the game is actually underway. You couldn't get me to bet on this team right now even if you gave me the money to do so.

Over at the JLL last night, the Acadia Axemen forced a third and deciding game in their opening round series against U de M, defeating the hometown Aigles Bleus 5-2. Is it just me or would anyone else like to see these opening round best of three series extended to best of five? A three game series has too much of a single game elimination feel to it... and for a level as high as AUS, I think it's only fair to all teams that they have to win three times to advance in any round. A two out of three leaves alot less margin for error and although exciting, could take a very good team out of the running before they even get their feet under them. Last night Alex Beaton paced the Axemen with a pair of goals and an assist while Evan Mosher - no stranger to frustrating the living crap out of Moncton based teams while a member of the PEI Rocket - made 27 saves in the win. The series - and someone's season - comes to an end Sunday in Wolfville.

Finally, the Habs and Flyer do battle tonight. For as long as I can remember, I've almost always loved watching these two teams tangle (except for back when LeClair, Recchi and Desjardins would continuously hand some of those awful Montreal teams their lunch). That being said, it was always a little more special stuff like this would occur:

Or this...

Ahhh, memories...

Oh, and Carey Price has the flu. I'm assuming the Habs mulled over the option of either tying Price to the crossbar and hoping for the best or starting Peter Budaj. In any event, they went with plan "B" and gave 'ol Peter the nod.

Because There's Nothing More Romantic Than a 55 Save Performance

How can anyone enjoy a day named after this guy?

Valentine's Day... I suppose I would be more of a fan of it if I owned a flower shop or a Hallmark Cards store. I just don't see the point. The contrived BS that comes out of the goings on of February 14th should make society in general shake their heads... instead, it makes them buy chocolates in a heart shaped box... go figure. In fact, my wife - who's reading this over my shoulder as I type - happens to agree (which just goes to show that you really should check these things out before getting seriously involved)... she would tell you that everyday is Valentine's Day. I would agree with her. I would also add that the most romantic day of this month for me occurred a few days ago when pitchers and catchers reported... now that's something that always causes a twinge.

Congrats to les Aigles Bleus on their playoff opening win over Acadia in Wolfville last night. Francis Rochon paced U de M with a hat trick in the 7-5 victory, but it was the play of Andre Guay that stole headlines this morning. Not only did the former Woodstock Slammer overcome such trying situations as road legs, a 60 shot barrage and being in Wolfville, he made 55 saves (including a mind numbing 25 in the second period alone) to secure the win. Also among those to make their way onto the scoresheet was former Dieppe Commando Jean-Marc Leger, who's early third period goal put les Aigles ahead for good. U de M heads back to the JLL tomorrow looking to sweep the series. Game time is 7PM. Looking for something to do? It's as good an option as any.

Also coming up tomorrow, the Moncton Wildcats head to Saint John to face the Sea Dogs. Of course, they will be without the services of Dimitrij Jaskin, suspended 3 games for his hissy fit turned hit from behind on Rimouski's Ryan MacKinnon. I have no problem with the suspension as from my vantage point, it was a deliberate check from behind. A clearly frustrated Jaskin - bottled up in by Rimouski's defense and upset over what he felt were a couple of bad calls against him (they weren't), took his frustrations out on the second guy he saw (the first guy he saw was checked headlong into the Cats' bench). I appreciate the many dimensions Jaskin brings to this team... many a night, he is the straw that stirs the drink for Moncton. I also remember after watching him in exhibition a few months ago that he will have to keep himself in check after throwing opposing bodies around the ice at will during his first forays onto QMJHL ice surfaces. For the most part, he has done just that. I'll chalk this up to a momentary lapse in judgement from the Czech star... and hopefully one that doesn't cost him a scoring title, or his teammates valuable points in the standings.

There is a possibly that Mark Tremaine and Ryan Penny will return to the lineup tomorrow, an ideal situation if it plays out. It would be in everybody's best interests for that line to get a game under it's belt before the showdown on Halifax on Saturday, where they will play a key role as per usual. If one or the other is still out however, I'd like to see the team give some minutes to current Amherst Rambler Stephen Pugsley tomorrow night. The rookie made his Q debut on Monday night, certainly did not look out of place in a limited role and had a couple decent chances in and around the net. He's a part of the Cats' future... so best to make the most of the opportunity that may present itself.

Finally, despite my mini-diatribe against Valentine's Day above, let's end this with a little romance, shall we?

Must be a European thing...

Everybody's Talkin'

Well just start with the thing I feel like talking about the least and go from there.

And of course, that story would have to be last night's 2-0 Rimouski win at the Coliseum. That was just plain old fashioned, made from scratch, down on the farm bad. Name an aspect of the game and it was probably not the greatest thing you ever did see.

It's at this point where you're probably expecting me to go into a spiel about the officiating, particularly after having choice words for Lyndon Pike following the Commandos win against Yarmouth Sunday night.Well, that's not going to happen. First off, the penalties that were called against Moncton were, by and large, deserved. The only call I felt from my vantage point was undeserved was the Melindy diving call. I'd go through the list of infractions levied upon Moncton in this game but frankly, I don't feel like typing that much. Simply put, it wasn't quite as bad as the fans made it out to be in terms of what was called against Moncton. I will concede that there was a degree of inconsistency however. That being said, it was Thane Arsenault and Brad Mills running the game. One guy has a long history of officiating with some sort of chip on his shoulder while the other is Brad Mills... and I don't feel the need to expand on that point. It just happens, although to be fair that's far from the worst game I've seen those two call. Oh, and the Cats went a perfect 6/6 on the PK... which means they spent, including the Jaskin major, 15 minutes of the game shorthanded (actually less than that because one Rimouski powerplay was nullified by an Oceanic penalty). What's the excuse for the other 45 minutes?

What happened last night was lack of sync, poor decision making with the puck, and a complete lack of finish... on both sides. Two less than stellar goals on Alex Dubeau - who was rock solid otherwise - told the story of the game. I understand that killing penalties in bunches wears on a team... but usually, it provides a boost in momentum (just ask the Commandos on Sunday night). Moncton did very little to build off that momentum. Instead, Moncton took those successful penalties as an excuse to play trashy... and at times, they lost their heads.

I love some of what I've seen from this team post-Christmas. They give a ton of hope for the rest of the season at times... but maintaining composure is an absolute must. When you are a team with an outstanding powerplay and a subpar (improving... but subpar overall) penalty kill, taking more guys on the opponent's side to the box than your own is not just a bonus, it's could mean the difference between a win and a loss.

On the bright side, this Cats team has shown in the last few weeks the ability to bounce back from subpar performances in quicker fashion than earlier in the year. The opportunity to bounce back begins Friday night in Saint John. That game would be a good one to get the wheels back on the cart as the following night's game at the Metro Center would probably be the sort of contest one would like to have some momentum on their side going in.

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Congrats to Commandos' center Robbie Graham on second star honors in the MHL this week. It was one of those weeks where there were a number of decent individual performances from the local junior A squad. However, when the dust settled, Graham's six points in two games - including a highlight reel overtime winner against Yarmouth - stood out from the pack. The selfish broadcaster side of me feels I shouldn't say this, but it's true - Robbie Graham deserves to be in a major junior lineup somewhere. His skating ability, deceptively accurate shot and overall hockey sense (including impeccable lateral movement) all tell me there's a Q team somewhere with his name on it. For the third time in four weeks, a Dieppe player has snagged one of the league's three stars.

The Commandos take to the South Shore this weekend with games in Bridgewater and Yarmouth, Friday night and Saturday respectively.

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Let Scott Howson's tale be a cautionary one to those in the same situation: when you're using incriminating photos of someone as leverage in keeping your job, guard them with your life!

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Finally, I'm going to take a semi-step away from the world of sports and touch on a popular subject today. Bell Let's Talk Day. It goes without saying that most of us don't know one another as well as we think, only the very closest to us being the exception. There's usually something brewing under the surface... and sometimes, it's a very scary thing scratching and clawing under there. An inventory of people I know or knew in my life tells me that - as you've heard throughout the day via various outlets - mental health can affect anyone and everyone. It's a very compelling - and above all, very human - topic of discussion.

Quite possibly the greatest article I've ever read on this topic was written by a man who has become closely intertwined with the subject at hand. As first a kid and then a teenager, I grew up watching Michael Landsberg on TSN. Before anyone ever heard of Onrait and O'Toole, Landsberg and Brendan Connor were - for me - the most charismatic duo to ever enter the world of sports broadcasting. They were the reason I watched Sportsdesk (when it was still Sportsdesk, of course). If you had've told a 15 year old me that one of my favorite television personalities would one day admit to suffering from depression, I would've had a mighty hard time believing it. It really happened though... and Landsberg is one of those people fortunate enough to be around today to make a difference. However, it's a piece he did on someone who wasn't as fortunate that always resonates with me. Do yourself a favor and at some point and time, read this. If you've seen the piece already, go through it again. It's one of the greatest and toughest things I've ever read. If you want some hard hitting form of perspective, it's in the link above.

I write this blog to make people think. If the end of this post doesn't accomplish that, nothing will. Maybe- just maybe - thinking will lead to talking.

The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner... AKA, Everyone Loves Lyndon

Make it seven wins in the last eight at home for the Dieppe Commandos as they took down an incredibly talented Yarmouth Mariners team 4-3 in OT last night. After building a 3-1 lead and fighting an uphill battle against circumstances beyond their control, the Commandos bent but didn't break and wound up with perhaps their most gratifying victory of the season so far.

Beating most teams in the MHL on any given night is tough. Beating the Mariners is very tough. Beating them while being shorthanded nine times in a game is exceptionally tough. It all happened last night at the AJL.

I'm not getting too deep into what I thought of the officiating job offered up by Lyndon Pike last night. As I've said numerous times, the view of the play from ice level can sometimes look different than the view of the play from the stands or press box. Last night it looked exceptionally different. Different enough to safely say there were too many lapses in judgement by the man wearing the armband last night. It was one of the few sour notes to this otherwise excellent game.

The shots wound up bring 41-20 in favor of Yarmouth, but this was a game where the score reflected the closeness of the game rather than the shot clock (which doesn't actually exist in the AJL, much to my chagrin). Yarmouth generated their share of shots while on the man advantage, but the Commandos did what can only be called a spectacular job of keeping the Mariners to the outside. Most every conceivable quality offensive lane was cut off. Very seldom did the Commandos get caught chasing the puck. The only goal scored with the man advantage by Yarmouth - courtesy of former Cape Breton Screaming Eagle Kyle Campbell - wasn't about to be stopped by anyone... a perfect three way passing play between him, Colin Campbell and Josh Desmond. Desmond's cross ice pass to Kyle Campbell was harder than many shots directed towards the goal on this night.

Speaking of shots, when they did get through, Connor Wilkinson was there. In what was one of his most technically sound games to date, Wilkinson stayed out in the blue paint, challenged shooters and in a game where most shots arrived to him from the fringes, he did a superb job of tracking the puck and denying rebounds. He also more than kept his team alive in overtime as the game was seemingly on the Mariners stick more than once.

Up front, it was the typical speed game generating offense for Dieppe. Alex Snow - who continues to play like a 19 year old instead of a 17 year old - capped off the first goal of the night by rushing into the slot, taking the behind the net feed from Lindon Beckwith and firing off a quick and accurate backhand (you ever try getting off a quick and accurate backhand on the fly? Aint easy.) and beating Mariners netminder Travis Wilkins up high. Zack Cahill's second goal of the game to make it 3-1 was another example of how speed can kill. After Rodney Mahoney blew a tire at his own blueline, Cahill jumped up, poked the puck free and sped in alone. With the initial shot stopped, Alex Murray put the rebound home... after Travis Wilkins dislodged the net. Penalty shot time. And with that Cahill - who might lead the league in breakaway goals (or at least breakaway attempts) made good on the reprieve.

However, it was the OT winner by Robbie Graham that typified the kind of game it was for Dieppe. Busting his way through the slot, the shifty center fired off the initial stop that Wilkins got a piece of. Now at the side of the net and in the midst of falling, he picked up the rebound and fired a backhand past the dropping Yarmouth goalie and into the net. In a game in which the Commandos had to grind, get the jump on the competition and battle for virtually everything, it was a fitting way to end the contest.

Dieppe claims it's 23rd victory of the season, besting their total from last year. As well, with the win over Yarmouth, the Commandos have now beaten every team in the league at least once... and proves yet again that they can put a scare into most anyone on any given night. They head out on the road this weekend with games in Bridgewater on Friday night and a rematch in Yarmouth on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Cats are back home tonight, facing off against Rimouski in a battle of two contending teams. Let's hope the "second period against Halifax" team shows up more than the "almost any game in December" version. And with that, it's off to the Coliseum to watch the "Penny-less" Wildcats as Moncton center Ryan Penny is still feeling the effects of the high hit dished out by Liam Alcade on Friday night... which incidentally, will be a loss felt more than what some may realize.

The Storm Before The Storm

Last night's 8-5 Wildcats victory over Halifax could be analysed using any number of descriptions. There seemed to be equal parts skill, mistakes, end to end action, emotion and strategy. For anyone watching on TV, I hope you kept this game on the entire time (as there were junctures in which fans of either side would've been tempted to pull the plug). To those who were there in person, you definitely got your money's worth.

Going in, I was pessimistic... because my personal history shows that when I expect a Wildcats defeat, they pull out a victory and vice-versa (the best proof of this being the 2006 Memorial Cup, in which I predicted a Cats loss in the semi-final (fortunately I was wrong) and a win in the final (unfortunately, I was wrong)). My main concern was the events of the previous weekend would slightly outweigh the prep work that went into this weekend's games. I was wrong... but not dead wrong.

Based on their play in the first, the Cats could've perhaps taken a lead against last weekend's opponents Shawinigan and Drummondville with their play. It wasn't enough to take control over the Moose. Halifax bases most of their game on puck possession. The longer they have it, the less the opposition does. Combine that with speed and depth particularly on the top three forward lines and you have a team in which you'd best not make too many mistakes because the puck will be in the back of your net (see Halifax goal #2 in particular). By the time Halifax held a 2-0 lead, the game seemed to take on a bit of the feel of the last time the Moose played in Moncton. Then came the turning point.

That would be when Danny Flynn did two things. With a minute left in the first, he swapped the left wingers on his top two lines, placing Ivan Barbashev on the Salunier line and Yannick Veilleux on the line with Phillip Danault and Dimitrij Jaskin. Then, he changed his matchups, taking the Saulnier line off against the MacKinnon/Drouin/Frk troika and placing the new Danault line in it's stead. It only started to prove effective on their first shift, during which the Cat trio forced the puck deep into Moose territory and Jaskin beat Zach Fucale on a shot along the ice (which would be a recurring theme during the game... both Jaskin scoring and Fucale being beat along the ice).

The second period was essentially a carbon copy of the first game the Moose played up here this season. The Wildcats won almost every battle for the puck, they forced the Moose to the outside, received a number of big saves by Alex Dubeau (who was a key to the victory despite the goals against) and got very much in the face of Fucale, none more effectively than Chris Lalonde and his two goals from in tight. By period's end, the Cats won the period in goals 4-0, led the game 5-2 and showed the potential to keep up with the league's top team.

The third was a case of the Cats not playing as poorly as they did during parts of the first but still letting their foot off the gas. The Moose capitalized on virtually every mistake Moncton made and kept things very interesting until the other newly constituted line of Barbashev/Saulnier/Saulnier put the game away, Allain completing a 3 on 1 to perfection and giving the Cats a 7-5 lead. An empty netter and a few stray foam balls on the ice later and the Cats had their second win of the season against Halifax.

Despite the win and a number of positives I'm sure the team took from the game, I'm finding it hard to picture this Moncton team defeating that Halifax team in a seven game series. It should be a close series... one that could go back and forth on virtually a shift by shift basis. On the plus side, this Moncton team has a feel for itself totally unlike the one that took to the ice in the early portion of the season as well as December. The hiccups they encounter are usually rectified in a few shifts or a period, not over the course of several games. The Moose do not have a player quite like Dimirtij Jaskin, and this newly constituted line involving he, Veilleux and Danault seem to be a probable answer to the potent top line of the Moose. Danault in particular brings something that is absolutely critical to any success against Halifax's stars. A skilled checking center with speed and hockey sense. As well, I feel Danny Flynn could outcoach Dominic Ducharme during crucial times in a possible series matchup, which I will balance out by saying that is a tough challenge in it's own right.

On the other side, Halifax punishes teams who commit mistakes against them unlike any team in the league. They have speed, skill and the ability to confidently send forwards in three deep in the offensive zone. They have been the more consistent of the two clubs and have the impressive ability to bounce back quickly from poor shifts, periods and games.

The other factor in all this is the nature of those two Moncton victories over Halifax. In the first game, Moncton played virtually flawless. It was as close to a "perfect game" as you'll probably ever see. The second game took an outstanding effort in the second period and a poor effort from Halifax in periods two and three for Moncton to pull out the victory. Although coming back against a team like that is certainly a feather in Moncton's cap, it tells me that for Moncton to defeat Halifax in a playoff matchup, Moncton will have to play impeccable, "foot on the gas pedal" type hockey or Halifax will have to play a notch or two below their capabilities for four games out of seven. Although I want by any means possible to see Moncton pull this task off, I think anyone could understand why I feel it's a very tall order. I have seen enough evidence to justify it.

The Cats will face snowmageddon instead of the Rimouski Oceanic tonight before heading over to the island tomorrow afternoon to face the Rocket. L'Oceanic will instead enter the fray at the Coliseum on Monday at 7PM.

In Woodstock, the Commandos held in but couldn't seal the deal, falling to Woodstock 3-1. Perhaps the most promising aspect of this game was the play of Alex St-Arnaud. Despite struggling since the resumption of his career with the Commandos, the former Val d'Or Foreur netminder put 43 big saves up on the board to keep the visitors very much in it for as long as possible and received second star honors for his effort. If this is any indication, it would appear the work in practice with JF Damphousse and Sebastien Dupuis appears to be paying off for St-Arnaud. Hopefully this is a stepping off point to a successful stretch drive for the recently reacquired goalie.

Dieppe is back at it tomorrow evening, facing off against an uber-powerful Yarmouth squad at 7:30PM. The late start is due to a speed skating tournament slated for the AJL earlier in the day, however this scheduling change should compensate for the less than stellar weather. If you're looking for something to do tomorrow night, come on over and see how the up-and-coming Commandos match up against the perennial powerhouse from Nova Scotia's south shore.

Howlin' For You

Every now and then, you hear about a game that has "everything". Some of the time, this is a false statement. You might get great end to end action with glorious scoring chances and timely goals. You might get stellar goaltending. You might get a physical affair. Not very often do you get all of this rolled into one.

Tonight at the AJL, the Commandos and Miramichi Timberwolves really did offer a little bit of everything. Dieppe also offered the hometown fans a win. An 8-4 win, to be precise. So how did a game with 12 total goals feature great goaltending? Oh, it happened.

The first period was less than tremendous for the home team. Dieppe was having difficulties on defensive zone assignments and the T-Wolves - who were still hunting for their first win against their rivals to the south this season - did their best to take advantage of this. It worked twice. The Commandos did manage a handful of strong breakouts which led to a few glorious scoring opportunities. This led to one goal... and even at that, it was a weak one. Other than that, Jordan Kennedy was lights out in period number one.

From the 21 minute mark on, the Commandos showed everyone in attendance exactly why they are becoming more and more of a dangerous entity in the MHL. As most good veteran teams do, the Commandos held in while the game was still close and confidently found their chance to put the game away in the third. Of course, this Commandos team isn't the most "veteran" team out there. They are, however, getting closer to being just that.

You name it, they did it. Going to the net, strong passing game, keeping Miramichi to the outside, big saves when required... you name it, the Commandos executed it. Credit Jeff Leblanc and his staff for correcting the mistakes that were prevalent during the first period and doing their part to ensure the team kept the foot on the gas pedal in the third.

They should've also spent at least part of the second intermission building a barrier in the hallway between the dressing rooms at the AJL.

What is it with the home of the Commandos as of late? Did Mike Milbury swing by and curse the place (with someone's shoe, of course)? The last couple of games have featured some rather dubious (re: stupid) actions on the part of visiting players. On Sunday, it was Slammers forward Brennan Saulnier blasting a puck over the glass and into the stands upon the sound of the final buzzer, an action that got him a two game vacation courtesy of the league. Tonight, Patrick Byrne and Alex Murray got involved in a heated exchange with eight minutes remaining in the third, most likely a debate over Oscar nominations and the like. Quickly separated and sent to their respective rooms with 10 minute misconducts, Byrne decided to channel is inner Iannique Renaud by charging down the hallway separating the two dressing rooms and attempting to take the law into his own hands. In retrospect, it probably would've been a wiser decision to simply wait until the next game between the two teams to settle the issue in a more sensible, non-gross misconduct acquiring way.

With the win, the Commandos do three key things. First, they remain perfect against a team that has been neck and neck with them all season in the race for playoff positioning. Secondly, they notch their 22nd win of the season, tying their total from last season. Finally, they officially clinch a playoff spot in the Meek Division (Campbellton could finish with the same number of points, but Dieppe holds every conceivable tiebreaker). They also find themselves hanging tough in the battle for second in the division, three points behind Woodstock with equal games played. Speaking of which, it's off the wild west of New Brunswick for the Commandos as they take on the Slammers tomorrow night at the Carleton County Civic Center.

Also tomorrow night, the Cats return to action after a craptastic road trip last weekend as they face off against Halifax at 8PM. The late start is the result of this being a Sportsnet Friday Night Hockey broadcast. So whether you're there in person or at home getting your RJ and Sam on, make it a point to watch as Moncton plays the first of back to back games that define the term "big test" and Halifax attempts to turn their huge lead in the division standings into a really huge one. May the Jaskin be with you!

Going Back There Again

Maroon sweater on a brown dog... truly an outstanding combination.

First things first... this week is gonna fly by. Between the unexpected circus that is the silly little thing called my daytime job and four consecutive evenings at either the Coliseum or the AJL, this might be The! Busiest! Week! of the year. I'm taking ten seconds to figure out if I'm coming or going and I might need a compass and GPS to even do that!

However, there is one thing I will make a point to do this coming Saturday. I will catch as much of CBC's Hockey Day in Canada as I can. Usually, I don't make much of a deal out of it, although it has been a delight to see two great MHL towns in Campbellton and Summerside play host to the festivities in recent years. This year the host is Peterborough, Ontario. That's actually a pretty large host community by HDIC standards and one that certainly wouldn't stand out at first glace to most Maritimers. For myself however, there is something special about where Ron and Don and family will be setting up shop at week's end.  

First off, it's where I was born. Ironically, that falls more into the category of "interesting coincidence" than "profound symbolism" for me personally. I've not been a Peterborough resident - and have not returned - for almost 31 years (and anyone who knows me can probably do the math and figure out I was still learning the more technical aspects of refining my motor skills at that time - a challenge I still face today, ironically). When I was in town, one of the main employers in was 3M, the OHL Petes were fresh off a run of three straight league titles and I remember absolutely none of it. However, as someone who feels that where you are born is an important place even if it's mostly just for personal historical purposes, it is admittedly pretty cool to say that my birthplace is about to put on a party of this magnitude.

Second, and this is truly first, their aforementioned junior hockey team has always been something kind of special for me. Ironically, place of birth has nothing to do with it. I became a casual Petes fan back in the spring of 1996. It was the team's 40th Anniversary and they were hosting the Memorial Cup. The Quebec representatives were the Granby Predateurs. I honestly don't know where to begin when counting the reasons why a then 15 year old me - who was a newcomer to the realm of junior hockey fandom - had a strong dislike for the Preds. Part of it was the fact that they were good (and the Alpines team I cheered for was bad... and bankrupt), part of it was the cast of players who I just found largely unlikable. Another factor was their coach - Michel Therrien - who I'm still trying to shake all these years later (at least he's in Montreal instead of Fredericton... now that was a little too close for comfort). Even the Morrissette brothers, the team's highly dubious ownership, was another reason to be less than enamored of the club. People who assault officials in arena parking lots tend to not reek of class. Below is taken from the book "The Memorial Cup" in reference to the Laval Titan's opening game of the 1994 tournament (the family held/holds a stake in that team as well):

"Things did get painful after the game, however, as referee Luc Lachapelle suffered face and head cuts when the window of the car he was riding in was smashed in the Colisée parking lot. According to Lachapelle, the damage was done by Titan general manager Jean-Claude Morrissette's fist. The next day, Morrissette resigned, and a CHL disciplinary committee fined the Titan $10,000, barring Morrissette from the Colisée de Laval for the rest of the tournament. The QMJHL later suspended him from all league activities with any team for the 1994-95 season."

Morrissette came back to the Q in time to join the Predateurs in 1995-96 in an advisory role.

So yeah, I was a pretty big fan of Zac Bierk and Cameron Mann for about a week or so. Unfortunately, the Petes lost in the finals to that same Granby team. Although I was not a fan of that particular squad, the fact that they led the Q to their first Memorial Cup title in 15 years (and first for a Quebec based franchise in 25 years) certainly put a feather of respectability in the league's cap.

Fast forward ten seasons... and the Petes were front and center for me once again. This time, the venue was the Moncton Coliseum and the event was the 2006 Memorial Cup. The Petes were considered the underdogs by many going into the tournament. Many were surprised they even got out of the "O" alive (although a sweep of the London Knights in that year's final isn't the exact definition of "just hanging on"). They proved - for a game, at least - why they belonged at the tourney, defeating the Quebec Remparts 3-2 in the week's opening match (a game cited a few days ago on this blog in the form of recent Bruins call-up Jamie Tardif, who scored a big third period goal in that contest for the OHL champs). From that point on, the Petes - led by Jordan Staal and Steve Downie - simply ran out of gas, losing to Moncton and Vancouver in the round robin and being forced into the tie-breaker game against the WHL champion Giants. The bottom truly fell out that afternoon as Vancouver spent about half the game on the powerplay, Gilbert Brule and Cody Franson feasted on ample time with the man advantage and the Giants won easily, 6-0, to advance to the semi-finals. This would prove to be the last game behind the bench for legendary junior coach Dick Todd, capping off 14 successful seasons over two separate stints with the Petes.

You can read more about Todd and the rest of the history of junior hockey in Peterborough in Ed Arnold's outstanding book "Hockey Town". The Petes have a pretty fascinating history - one that dates back to 1956 - and has been home to many outstanding hockey people. They are all documented in this tome. From Scotty Bowman and the Plager brothers, to the incomparable Roger Neilson (who was instrumental in Dick Todd ever being in Peterborough in the first place, ironically) and the days of Mickey Redmond and Bob Gainey, through to the more modern days of the franchise involving Mike Keenan, Steve Larmer, Steve Yzerman, Mike Ricci and Chris Pronger among others, Hockey Town covers it all in great - but not overbearing - detail. As a person who will read almost anything hockey related, I stumbled upon this book a year or two after the Petes made their appearance at the Memorial Cup in Moncton. It was yet another occasion where, for reasons completely unrelated to what should be the most obvious one, Peterborough reeled me in. It will probably do the same one more time this weekend.

It just goes to show that sometimes, "going home" takes you to a place that you don't remember... but never seem to be able to forget, either.

Super Sunday

The Commandos had the unenviable task of completing a three games in three days scenario this afternoon. After winning 3-1 in Campbellton Friday night and dropping a 5-2 decision in Summerside last night, it was a date with the Woodstock Slammers at home to cap things off. My primary concern going into this game was how Woodstock would respond after the last meeting between these two which went less than great for Tatarnic and Co. The result - a 4-3 Dieppe victory that could be considered the textbook definition of "character win".

It goes without saying that any team in a 3-in-3 situation always look to come out strong to start that final game. Dieppe did just that. If you were walking into the rink during the first 20 minutes and someone told you one of these teams was playing their third game in as many days, you would've guessed it was the visiting team. Dieppe won the majority of races for loose pucks and were setting up very efficiently in the offensive zone. Slammers goalie Sam Renault - who was on the losing end of that Commandos comeback two weeks ago - kept his team in it by making no less than three saves of the huge variety... which makes it even more bizarre that his miscue - gift wrapping a clearing attempt onto the stick of Alex Murray - led to the game's first goal.

The second and third periods for Dieppe were a case of key goals at key times, keeping the hard charging Slammers to the outside as much as possible, keeping emotions as in check as possible, and not just at the hands of their opponent (let's just say the most oft-repeated name in the rink this afternoon was Moe Leblanc... and if you're not familiar, he's not a player) and the Connor Wilkinson show. Nine periods in under 72 hours - including two games on the road - will chip away at even the best of teams by the time that eighth and ninth period rolls on. The Slammers know this as well as anybody and did their best to exploit it. Their use of speed through the neutral zone and allowing themselves optimal space in Dieppe territory (not to mention playing dman Steve Gillard for what seemed like 50 minutes) very nearly paid off. In the end, Wilkinson proved why the old adage "last line of defense" couldn't be more true, holding the Slammers at bay when required and helping the Commandos to their 21st victory of the season.

One thing that has been a constant all season long in Dieppe has been the solid play of #31 between the pipes. However, it's what he brings to his teammates when he steps in the cage that makes his contribution even more critical. Any team with confidence in their number one goalie plays as such. Not just the goalie himself, but for his teammates, just knowing a guy is between the pipes that will keep you in a game like today's can be the difference between a win and a loss. Much like the presence of a tough guy on a forward line can make his linemates feel a foot taller, a reliable number one goaltender can make his defensemen feel like a Norris candidate.  I think anyone who was watching today's game saw just that this afternoon. There were no noticeable sags on the bench this afternoon - and at times, there could've been.

Dieppe now sits five back of the second place Slammers with two games in hand. They do it all over again on Friday night in Woodstock, but before that the Commandos get to tangle with that team they're trying to keep ahead of in the divisional standings, the Miramichi Timberwoles, on Thursday night. It all gets underway at 7:30 at the AJL.

Meanwhile, the streak is over for the Moncton Wildcats. Drummondville, a team that just seems to be hanging out in the top half of the league standings yet get very little respect for it, took down the visiting Cats 3-2, Moncton's first loss in 10 games. It was just a "blah" weekend overall for Moncton, who also looked less than impressive in their 2-1 OT win over last place Shawinigan on Friday night. I would be concerned if this wasn't coming on the heels of a lengthy winning streak, but since it is I guess we'll chalk it up to a "crap happens" sort of weekend. Time to erase this weekend from the memory banks (if I had a dollar for every time I said that in my younger days...) and focus on the next task... about as tough of a three-in-three as you can get with two games at home. Friday night the Sportsnet crew make their way into town for a nationally televised game against Halifax, on Saturday night Rimouski rolls into town and on Sunday they travel to PEI to face a Rocket team which the Cats either beat the tar out of or have the tar beaten out of by. This is the test everyone has been waiting for since the trade deadline. Let's see what goes down.

Two NHL notes: congrats to Jamie Tardif who - at 28 - made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins last night in Toronto. Fans who were around during the 2006 Memorial Cup may remember Tardif as an overager on that year's OHL champion Peterborough Petes, scoring a key goal to help down the Quebec Remparts in the tournament's opening game. Perseverance paid off for the Welland, Ontario native.

Congrats also goes out to Steve Bernier, who's two goal game earned him first star honors in the Devils 3-0 win over the Islanders this afternoon. There's never been any doubt as to the abilities of the former 1st overall pick in the QMJHL draft, but a combination of inconsistent results and being in the wrong organization at the wrong time always seemed to plague the former Cat. It now appears that the right place and time have arrived and Bernier has responded very positively (major penalties in the Stanley Cup Finals notwithstanding).

Finally, one of my color guys, Frank Robidoux, tweeted this my way over the weekend:

First of all, bonus points to Frank for finding Moncton Alpines footage on the internet, which is akin to finding water in the desert. Secondly, this is why I try and stay on Jeff's good side.