Maineiacs head coach Clem Jodoin sat comfortably in the stands at Harbour Station on Thursday night, content to watch two teams without getting involved. Lewiston is facing one of those teams, the Saint John Sea Dogs, tonight in the first game of a three-in-three weekend, and Jodoin was doing a little scouting.
“I can tell you what they have after this game,” joked Jodoin, who nearly had to yell into his phone after Saint John was awarded its first power play of the game. “Really, I know they have a good team, but we have our team now, and we’re ready to go.”
The Maineiacs and the Sea Dogs played twice in the preseason, with each team winning on the other’s home ice.
“With the whole team there, both teams are very different,” said Jodoin.
One of the key stats Jodoin mentioned Thursday was his team’s ability to score on the power play and keep opponents from scoring on theirs.
Lewiston is 26-for-26 on the penalty kill through its first three games of the season, and has scored eight times in 33 opportunities with an extra skater. The Maineiacs’ 24.2 percent efficiency on the power play ranks third in the league.
“They are key,” said Jodoin. “The special units are key. Right now we have not allowed a power play goal, and we want to keep it that way.”
Between the pipes
As expected, Jonathan Bernier will start two of Lewiston’s three games this weekend, with Travis Fullerton getting the third start.
Bernier will start tonight and Saturday’s game against undefeated Moncton, while Fullerton will face Cape Breton on Sunday.
Taking over
In news from across the league, Quebec Remparts part-owner and general manager Patrick Roy has assumed yet another title with the team – head coach.
The Remparts fired coach Eric Lavigne just five games into the season Thursday and Roy assumed duties behind the bench.
“Unfortunately, after last year’s playoff loss to Chicoutimi and the results at the beginning of this season, we felt a change was necessary,” Roy said in a press release Thursday.
“I believe I can bring passion to this team and to its players. I want them to work hard for the people of Quebec City and elevate their games to another level come playoff time.”
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