The Lewiston Maineiacs have won six of their last eight games.
By Justin Pelletier
Staff Writer

LEWISTON – The Lewiston Maineiacs are one of the hottest teams in the league over the last three weeks, winning six of their last eight games, including the last four.

With league-worst Victoriaville coming to town on Friday, it would seem as though Lewiston has an easy path five straight.

Not so fast, say the coaches.

“All of the guys on the team that have been around the league more than a year know how much parity there is,” assistant coach Ed Harding said after practice on Wednesday. “We as a coaching staff are going to lean on the team about that all week. It’s our job as coaches to get them ready to play.”

The numbers don’t lie. Victoriaville has won 11 games in 45 tries this season, and have just 27 points. The Tigres’ leading goal-scorer, Mike Ramsay, has just 16 goals this season, and their leader in points has produced just 37.

In January, Victoriaville has won once, tied once and lost three, and has been outscored 28-11. The Tigres have allowed 13 goals against while killing penalties in that span, and have lost their last three by a combined 21-3.

“All of those numbers, they are what scare me,” Harding said. “They are going to be a very hungry team, and we expect that they will play some good hockey.”

With two games this weekend, Harding said it was likely that both Matt Davis and Brandon Verge would see action, although no final decision have been made.

“Our hope is that they continue to push each other,” Harding said. “We’ve been extremely happy with both recently.”

Simon St. Pierre and rookie Benoit Doucette have been solid at center for the Tigres, each posting more than 35 points on the season to date, leading a much maligned offense, when it has been able to score.

In their last trip to Lewiston, the Tigres hung with the Maineiacs for half of the game, keeping the score close at 4-3 before the Maineiacs pulled away for a 9-3 win.

Both Daniel Manzato and Josh Tordjman saw time in net that day for Victoriaville, while Brandon Verge tended the net for Lewiston, making 27 saves on 30 shots.

The game on Friday starts at 7 p.m, as does the next home game, which was moved from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday to accommodate those fans that will watch the New England Patriots play on television at 3 p.m.

NOTES: Alexandre Picard has been selected to play in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects game in London, Ontario on Wednesday, January 21. Picard is one of seven players on the 40-player list from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and the Maineiacs’ lone representative. Hockey legends Bobby Orr and Don Cherry will each be behind the bench for one of the teams participating. Dale Hunter, a 20-year NHL veteran and current London knights coach, will assist Orr, while Brian Kilrea, currently the coach of the Ottawa 67’s and the CHL’s all-time winningest coach, will assist Cherry.

jpelletier@sunjournal.com

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