The Maineiacs host the powerful Wildcats today at the Central Maine Civic Center.
LEWISTON – With the division lead now less than 10 points in front of them, the Lewiston Maineiacs begin a stretch run on Sunday against what coach Mario Durocher calls “one of the top four teams in the league.”
Lewiston will look to extend its winning streak to four games on Sunday afternoon as it hosts the Moncton Wildcats at the Central Maine Civic Center for the first of two home meetings this season.
“It will be their third game in three nights on the road,” Durocher said. “It will be an interesting game.”
And while the Wildcats (26-13-2-1, 3rd in the Atlantic Division) may be a bit tired, that may play right into their hands.
“When a team is on that last game, especially Moncton, they like to trap,” Durocher said. “We have to be ready for that.”
As for a potential let down after two hard-fought, emotional wins over division rival Rimouski, Durocher says that that isn’t likely.
“Against a weaker team, maybe that would be a possibility,” Durocher said. “But where we are playing one of the best teams in the league, I think that will help us.”
The Lewiston lineup may start to look more familiar again, too. On Friday against Rimouski, Vladislav Balaz played his first game since coming back from Helsinki, Finland, and was placed on the fourth line to start the game.
“He hadn’t skated in six days, except for a morning skate with us,” Durocher said. “He will be back with (Alexandre) Picard and (Gabriel) Balasescu in the game on Sunday.”
With newcomer Karl Fournier unable to play for a few weeks, Marc-Andre Cliche, who had moved up to play with Picard and Balasescu over the last few weeks, will remain on either the second or third line, sharing the ice with Sheldon Wenzel, Nicolas Cowan, Alex Bourret, Mathieu Aubin and Pierre-Luc Faubert.
On defense, Richard Stehlik, although back in Lewiston, remains sidelined with the flu, giving Chad Denny an extended stay on the blue line.
“It is good now that Chad is the first one off the bench,” Durocher said. “He will get more ice that way, and it will give him confidence to know that he is the first one on.”
Matt Davis is expected to get the start in net against his former team. Last year on draft day, Davis was exchanged for 20-year-old defenseman Mathieu Wathier. Having battled injuries in the first part of the season, Davis has played in two games since coming back, stopping 20 shots for a shutout against Rimouski and making 27 saves on 29 shots to record the win in Drummondville last Sunday.
Notes: Defenseman Maxime Brunet has been sent down to Midget AAA, according to team officials. He joins Kevin Talbot on the recent cut list, bringing the total number of players on the active roster down to 23. In 14 games this season with the Maineiacs, Brunet had no points, 10 penalty minutes and six shots on goal.
jpelletier@sunjournal.
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