At the outset, it would appear that the Lewiston Maineiacs’ next stretch of games would be just the medicine for a team beset by seven straight setbacks.
With a solid netminder and a respectable record against tough opponents, though, the Saint John Sea Dogs will not provide the Maineiacs with as much of a break as some people might think this evening in New Brunswick.
“There are no bad teams in junior hockey,” Maineiacs coach Clem Jodoin said. “A first-year team went to the Western Hockey league finals before. With two European picks and five overage players, that can make a big difference.”
And while the record slide might be at the forefront, the Maineiacs realize stopping a skid like this is never easy.
“Everyone’s confidence is fragile right now,” said Jodoin. “Weak emotionally and weak mentally, but there are still some good things, and it’s still a long season.”
Particularly disheartening in loss No. 7 against Moncton on Sunday was an apparent loss of heart in the third period that led to four goals in the final 20 minutes and the worst home loss for the Maineiacs in their three-year existence.
“They gave up the system that we play,” said Jodoin. “Since the beginning of the season we had a good system. It gave us more scoring chances at home against Bathurst (20-14 by the team’s count) and we still lost. We expect to be better.”
Saint John, meanwhile, has flown under the radar. Through 17 games, the Sea Dogs are 7-8-0-2 and in fifth place in the Eastern Division, three points better than the seventh-place Maineiacs.
Overage goaltender Jason Churchill, who played last season for Halifax, has led the Sea Dogs between the pipes. Churchill, who has played in 15 of the team’s 17 games, has a 3.38 goals against average and a .904 save percentage. While not gaudy numbers, they have held up for a team that is scoring an average of 3.3 goals per game.
It was unclear Tuesday whether Lewiston’s No. 1 netminder, Jonathan Bernier, would be available for tonight’s game. Bernier went home last weekend for a family emergency and was not with the team at Tuesday’s practice.
Rookie Ryan Sparling leads the Saint John offense with 19 points in 17 games, while the Maineiacs top point-getter is Mathieu Aubin, with 24 points.
Following the one-game trip to Saint John, Lewiston will face Halifax, the last team the Maineiacs beat, on Friday at the Colisee.
Comments are no longer available on this story