TROIS-RIVIERES, Quebec – The Lewiston Maineiacs looked for every possible edge going into tonight’s game against Shawinigan at the Jacques Plante Arena. They’ve studied film, gone over tendencies and dissected the three games the teams played this season.
Instead of staying in Shawinigan on Thursday, the team stopped 20 miles away in Trois-Rivieres, a town that is familiar to coach Clem Jodoin.
“We didn’t go to Shawinigan because I didn’t want them seeing our lineup right away,” said Jodoin. “Even if we are injured.”
Jodoin used to coach in Trois-Rivieres. A picture of his university team that won a national title still hangs in the locker room where the Maineiacs stored their gear Thursday night. That advantage, though, will be minimal, and Jodoin will instead look to his veterans to lead the way, something he feels they are capable of doing.
“For me, the Gates, the Wenzels, the Picards, those are the players that have to lead the way,” said Jodoin. “Bourret, Paiement, Roach. They have been there before, so these are the guys leading by example. For me, if we rely on our rookies, we are in trouble. The veterans have to show the way.”
And as for a specific strategy, Jodoin was mostly tight-lipped, but alluded to a simple base defense that he felt would give the shorthanded Maineiacs the best chance.
“We’re going to play a little bit of 1-2-2,” said Jodoin. “We want to make sure we are always back four guys, and we’re going to forecheck hard. I call that a small ice, you know, to make them play to the outside. If they shoot the puck from the outside, Jaro (Halak) is going to stop it. If you give them the middle of the ice, they have more chances.”
On offense, the team got a boost of confidence when it arrived at the hotel to find Alexandre Picard waiting for them. Picard had spent a week at home with his family for personal reasons. Sheldon Wenzel is also scheduled to be in the lineup, and while there are several players still out, they all made the trip, hoping to add an edge of confidence and inspiration.
“It’s up to us now. It’s about focus now,” said Jodoin. “Focus means if somebody yells at you, you don’t look at them. That’s focus. If there is a bad call, you don’t look at the referee. That’s focus. Every detail, we need to stay focused.”
Focused, for many, including Jodoin, includes staying out of the penalty box.
“There’s no question that it is important,” said Jodoin. “The referee, he is going to make some bad calls, but the key is to stay out of the box. We have to play 5-on-5 as much as possible. We still have a thin lineup, with just three lines, and sometimes you need the fourth to rest some players.”
The Cataractes are a reeling team, having won just twice in their final 10 games. They allowed the division lead over Rouyn-Noranda and Gatineau to disintegrate over the final three weeks of the season, and leading scorer Benoit Mondou has struggled all season with a nagging wrist injury.
“When I talked with my scouts, we talked about (Shawinigan),” said Jodoin. “They had two weeks to win the championship in their division, and they didn’t. They went to Val d’Or and lost 2-1, and they were shut out in the last game against Gatineau. So we have a chance to do something. I think emotionally, I am not saying they are down, but they are hurt.”
The verdict?
“We are going to win,” deadpanned Jodoin. “We have to stay on the ice, and they all have to bring their A’ game. Not the B’ game and not the C’ game. The A’ game. If we do that, we will win.”
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