LEWISTON – After a split on the road to open the 2004 playoffs, Maineiacs coach Mario Durocher was perhaps as satisfied as he has been at any time during the season. Asked what he was going to change for the next two game, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Colisee, his reply was quick and firm.

“Not a thing,” Durocher said. “We outshot them and outplayed them in the first game, and we completely outplayed them in the second game. There is no reason to change the game plan now.”

Lewiston and Rouyn-Noranda are knotted at 1-1 in their best-of-seven series in the opening round of the QMJHL playoffs.

In that first game, a 4-1 Maineiacs’ loss Friday, Rouyn-Noranda goaltender Mathieu Poitras made 55 saves, many spectacular, to keep his team locked tight with the Maineiacs for much of the game. The Huskies pulled away with three late goals.

“He is the story for them,” Durocher said. “I expect he will start again Tuesday and Wednesday. He has to.”

On Saturday, Poitras lasted just 32 minutes, allowing five goals on 27 shots. His replacement, Philippe Roberge, allowed a goal on the first shot he faced, and finished with 12 saves on 14 shots.

“The difference in the second game was scoring early on Poitras,” Durocher said. “It opened up their game to make them play from behind.”

In the Maineiacs’ net, both goaltenders saw action, with Brandon Verge getting the win Saturday with 35 saves on 37 shots. A decision on which goalie gets the start in Game 3 will be made Tuesday morning after practice.

Goalies aside, the Maineiacs feel that they continue to hold the advantage.

“We are very fast in the offensive zone,” Durocher said. “That helps us against them. Here at home, too, we have more room in our rink to move. Maybe that will keep them from slashing us so much, too.”

A parade of Huskies made their way to the penalty box Saturday, all called for slashing. By the end of the game, there were fewer than 10 players left on the bench. On the Lewiston side, the bench was shortened by a cautious coach.

“I kept them out of the game at the end to make sure they did not get hurt,” Durocher said.

Two Huskies, Eric Tetreault and Remy Tremblay, received match penalties and an automatic one-game suspension Saturday, meaning they will miss Tuesday’s game.

The Maineiacs, meanwhile, were pleased with their production on the power play over the weekend, noting the timeliness of those goals Saturday.

“Some of those, we don’t really look at all that much,” Durocher said, “but the first power play goal was big.”

Durocher doesn’t fear a let down after the lopsided victory.

“After the way the game ended up, I am not worried at all about that,” Durocher said. “It was a bad ending, and the guys aren’t going to forget it.”

jpelletier@sunjournal.com

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