The Lewiston Maineiacs’ preseason debut against Drummondville at the Marcel Dionne Centre bore a striking resemblance to the team’s 2008-09 swan song: plenty of penalties, and plenty of goals against.

Alexandre Comtois and Jean-Christophe Lirette recorded four points each and four other Druimmondville skaters added goals as the Voltigeurs drove back the Maineiacs in an 8-2 win in front of their home fans in the teams’ preseason debut.

“We were happy with a lot of things, and not so happy with some others,” Lewiston GM Roger Shannon said. “The nice part about a game like this is, we get to see who can play and who can’t.”

“We saw a lot of really nervous, young players at the beginning of the game,” coach Don MacAdam said. “We really rebounded and played solid in the second, and then we fell apart in the third, especially on the penalty kill.”

Each of the two goalies battling for the Maineiacs’ backup job saw about 30 minutes. Sixteen-year-old Jordan Kennedy started, allowed three goals on six shots to begin the game, and then settled down. Those three goals were the only shots to get by on 20 Drummondville attempts.

“He played a little nervous early, but it was his first kick at it,” MacAdam said.

Tyler Piercy, 17, started string in the second period, but saw the Volts explode against him in the third as they scored five more goals, including three on the power play.

“When the penalty barrage took over, (Drummondville) was constantly on the power play,” Shannon said. “What do you do?”

“I think both goalies had a couple go in they might want to have back,” MacAdam said.

Lewiston pulled to within two at 3-1 in the second period, as Steeven Jacques popped his first goal of the preseason past Drummondville keeper Frederic Piche for the lone goal by either team in the middle frame.

Stefan Fournier scored the other Lewiston goal after a Drummondville barrage early in the third.

Simon Bissonnette had an assist on Jacques’ goal, but was relegated to an early exit after accumulating 16 minutes in penalties after his second fight of the game in the third period. His were 16 of the 34 penalty minutes officials handed the Maineiacs on Saturday. Drummondville enjoyed 13 power plays to Lewiston’s eight.

‘Working on it’

There has been speculation in recent days that the Maineiacs may be looking to make a deal or two before the preseason trade deadline, which arrives Sunday night.

Saturday, Shannon confirmed that the team is in the talking stages, though he stopped short of offering any other details.

“We’re working hard on it,” Shannon said. “Hopefully we’ll have something done by tomorrow. We think we have the opportunity to upgrade even more yet, and we feel we can get that done. I’ve been on the phone all night.”

Home debut

The Maineiacs will make their home preseason debut Sunday afternoon at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee when they take on the Drummondville Voltigeurs at 4 p.m.

According to MacAdam, the roster Sunday will be decidedly different than that used in Saturday’s 8-2 loss in Drummondville.

“It will start in net,”MacAdam said. “Adrien (Lemay) will play at least part of the game, and we’ll have a bit more experience overall in the lineup, too. I hope all of the nerves are behind us now, and we can have a good game.”

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