By Justin Pelletier,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – A quick look at the standings says everything.

Cape Breton, with 30 wins, has 70 points and is tied for eighth place in the league’s overall standings. Lewiston, with 31 wins, also has 70 points. The two teams meet this afternoon at the Colisee.

“This game, this one is for home-ice advantage,” said Maineiacs coach Clem Jodoin. “(Today) is a must-win.”

The Screaming Eagles may be tied for eighth, and may have just five wins in their last 10 games, but in those game, more than likely, the Eagles have outshot their opponents.

“They are a very good team, and the biggest adversity they have is all of their travel,” said Jodoin. “You look at their game (Friday) night. They outshot Chicoutimi something like 40-22 (the actual number is 39-21) and they only got a tie. They are strong, they are physical, and we need to show what we are made of.”

Nowhere did that show, especially in the veterans, more than during Friday night’s game. Alex Bourret was sick with the flu, and had to pause several times during the game. Sheldon Wenzel, meanwhile, was whacked in the leg by a Joey Ryan slash. After hobbling off the ice on one skate, Wenzel later returned, still limping but willing to play.

“Wenzel has been injured for the last month,” said Jodoin, “but we need everybody. He knows that and wants to play. Bourret, he found a way. He found a way to play (Friday) night, and if he can find a way, so can everyone else. This is what veterans have to do.”

The team also got more good news this weekend when it learned that defenseman Chad Denny may be ready to go for next weekend’s regular-season finale against Victoriaville.

Also starting to come around for Lewiston is the time spent in the penalty box. Against Quebec on Friday, Lewiston took just four minor penalties, and off-setting penalty limited the Remparts to less than four minutes with an extra attacker.

“It makes such a big difference,” said Jodoin. “If we end up with 10 to 20 minutes per game where we are short-handed compared to eight against Quebec, it makes a big difference.”

Part of the recent turnaround has been the play of Jonathan Paiement, Bourret and Alexandre Picard. All three are listed in the top 25 in the league in penalty minutes, but in the last game, none of them had an infraction.

“That is the beauty of junior hockey,” said Jodoin. “When it is time, the veterans have to show what they can do, and you also can see the future of the team in front of you.”

The younger members have also started to blossom, with Stephane Chaput and Sebastien Piche, two of the team’s 16-year-olds (by league definition), joining Ryan Murphy on the overtime game-winner Friday.

The chips are falling into place for the Maineiacs, but a win against Cape Breton would give the team a bit more breathing room.

“I respect them a lot,” said Jodoin, “but in our building, in front of our fans, this is a must. It’s great to say that we have to win, but the players have to play for the win, too. We need to do anything we can to get those two points.”