LEWISTON – Two hours will have to do.

The Lewiston Maineiacs practiced for two hours Wednesday night after taking nine days off, and are back in action tonight against the Moncton Wildcats at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee at 7 p.m..

“You always worry about (being tired) after a break like this,” Maineiacs’ head coach Ed Harding said. “You worry about who’s worse off for taking the break, Moncton or us. I’m not going to say that our practice was stellar and crisp, but it was good enough where I think we’ll compete hard (tonight).”

The break was a kick in the knees of sorts to the Maineiacs, who were on a roll with three straight wins and four victories in their five games before the holidays.

Moncton, meanwhile, a team that has always played the Maineiacs’ tough, regardless of either team’s spot in the standings, also finished strong, though the Wildcats are just 14-18-2-4 this season and are currently in the Eastern Division basement.

“They have a good, hard forecheck,” Harding said. “They always come to play hard against any team.”

Moncton will be a decidedly different team this time around, though. Last week, the Wildcats traded first-line forward Matt Marquardt, a Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick, to Baie-Comeau, along with Myles Gomes, in a trade for blueliner David Savard, second- and fifth-round selections in 2008 as well as a first-round pick in 2009.

“They’re still a pretty deep hockey team,” Harding said. “They’ll plug someone else into his spot who can be just as dangerous.”

Harding remained fairly quiet about any possible deals involving his team, though he did mention that something could happen, if the price is right.

“We think we have a pretty good hockey team here,” Harding said. “We’re looking to make this team better, but we’re certainly not going to do it by giving up our future. The right thing would have to fall into place.”

Asked whether there were any specific players who interested him, Harding was quick to answer.

“Yeah,” Harding said. “He’s in St. Louis right now.”

Harding was joking, referring to former Lewiston skater David Perron, who unexpectedly made the St. Louis Blues’ roster out of training camp this season.

Notes: Fans will likely see the team’s newest defenseman, Guillaume Durand, in action this week, but you might have to tune into the Web cast. Harding said Wednesday that Durand looked good in practice, but needs a bit more time to learn the team’s systems … David Perron was supposed to be an alternate captain with this year’s team, splitting home and away games with Stefano Giliati. Giliati will continue to wear an ‘A,’ and Harding announced Wednesday that Stefan Chaput would begin wearing an ‘A’ on his jersey, too.