The Maineiacs play three games in three nights beginning tonight in Val d’Or.
By Justin Pelletier
Staff Writer

LEWISTON – What do six wins in a row and eight of 10 mean to Maineiacs coach Mario Durocher?

Not much.

“We showed some good things, for sure, in the last six games,” Durocher said, “but those games were all at home. Now, on the road, we see if it’s for real.”

The Maineiacs take to the road this weekend for the first time in three weeks, and the trip is a doozy.

Lewiston travels to Val d’Or, Rouyn-Noranda and Gatineau for three games in three nights against three top-notch opponents.

“We really want to see how the guys react on the road,” Durocher said. “We need to see how well they follow a game plan, because in the playoffs, you have to be able to win a game or two on the road.”

Val d’Or may be the more important of the three games, given the current team standings. Lewiston currently sits in ninth place overall with 46 points, while the Foreurs are in 11th with 42 points despite having six fewer wins than the Maineiacs.

“They haven’t been playing well lately, and we have to be careful not to be the team they start to rebound against,” Durocher said.

Leading Val d’Or with 40 points are Francois Gagnon and Mathieu Dumas, while Mark Hurtubise and Jonathan Charette are second with 35 each.

The second game of the three-game stretch, traditionally the Maineiacs’ weakest of the three games in past road trips, is against Rouyn-Noranda. The Huskies have the sixth best record overall, and are tied with Rimouski with 53 points.

“The biggest challenge in Rouyn-Noranda is the ice surface,” Durocher said. “A game plan is very important there because the rink is smaller than normal, so the game is always tighter and faster. The goalies have to pay attention, even on shots from the red line.”

The final stop on the whirlwind tour is Gatineau. The Olympiques, the defending league champions, are currently second in the overall standings with 72 points, just one back of Cape Breton.

“They are one of the best teams in Canada,” Durocher said. “All of the games this weekend will be hard because they are on the road. Gatineau has one of the best defenses, and that will be a challenge for the offense this weekend.”

NOTES: Karl Fournier, acquired in a trade with Cape Breton earlier this month, is expected to see some action this weekend for the first time in a Maineiacs uniform…Despite leading the league in power play opportunities, Lewiston is producing at just 15.2 percent, 13th best in the 16-team league.

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