By Justin Pelletier,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Maybe the sting of three losses in three days motivated them.

Maybe being home for four consecutive nights for only the second time this season gave them energy, or maybe it the sun finally breaking a long, dreary spell that has blanketed the region gave them a psychological boost.

Whatever it was, the Lewiston Maineiacs were flying in practice Thursday morning, and the team and its coaches appear ready to take on the surging Cape Breton Screaming Eagles this weekend.

The teams will square off tonight and Saturday night at the Colisee.

“I don’t know if it’s because the sun is back out or what it is,” said Maineiacs head coach Clem Jodoin. “It was a very up-tempo practice. I like the atmosphere of it. It was very spirited, very high-tempo. This is what I was looking for, this is what I was expecting, and this is what I was reaching.”

After a rough start (five consecutive losses to start the season), the Eagles are 7-7, coming off of four consecutive one-goal victories, including two in overtime and one in a shootout.

“The fact that they beat Halifax 1-0 in Halifax, that is a good sign that team is playing well.,” said Jodoin. “They had a tough start, but that doesn’t usually mean anything.”

Lewiston, by contrast, has dropped five of its last six games, two in shootouts.

“The fact they (played Thursday night) and are coming into our building, we should take advantage and be ready to play,” said Jodoin. “This week we had some very tough practices where we battled and battled and battled. We have to win battles in the games, and we have to be stronger on the puck.”

One area that has been a strength for the Maineiacs so far this season has been the play of their special units. Lewiston’s power play is currently fifth overall at 22.4 percent, while the Maineiacs’ penalty-kill unit is fourth at 84.5 percent. Still, Jodoin wants more.

“Special units is not good enough for me,” said Jodoin. “We’re still among the first four in the league, but we can be better. (This) morning we will have a PK meeting with the team and power play still has to improve. We have been working on the different aspects of that in practice, to be more creative again.”

Cape Breton’s leading scorer, Kevin Asselin (15 points) was suspended for one game Tuesday following a hit from behind against a Halifax skater, but since the Eagles played last night, Asselin will be back in the lineup this weekend. Another solid player for Cape Breton has been 17-year-old James Sheppard. Last year, Sheppard put up 45 points in 65 games as a 16-year-old rookie. To date, he has eight points in 11 games.

“There are a lot of scouts coming down this weekend to watch these two games,” said Jodoin. “There is a lot of talent on the teams. It’s up to the players to show me their talent, show me their skill.”

Lewiston’s leading scorer has been Mathieu Aubin (20 points), who has at least one point in every game. Eric Castonguay and Marc-Andre Cliche are next among the forwards with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Brandon Roach leads the defense in scoring and is second on the with 14 points in 12 games.

Missing this weekend will be Chad Denny, who has not practiced all week while dealing with a hip injury.

“He hasn’t practiced in a whole week,” said Jodoin. “You have to respect the kids who are practicing all the time.”