... Because it's only fair if everyone gets to play!

I'm tired of fishing that puck out of the back of the net... how 'bout you give it a try?

Well, this afternoon's game at the Coliseum was interesting... sometimes for really wrong reasons, though. The Cats won 6-5... that statement alone would probably make Danny Flynn wish he could grow more hair just so he could pull it out.

The first period today reminded me very much of last night's Summerside/Dieppe game inasmuch as the visiting team absolutely took the play to the home squad... closing off the boards, forcing mistakes, hitting the line with speed and being very opportunistic. Alex Dubeau was around for the first 20 minutes and had a 3-1 deficit for his troubles... and to be honest, that trouble was a good portion of his own doing. The first goal was flat out weak. I know some people would question Allain Saulnier's coverage of Gabryel Paquin-Boudreau in front of the net on Baie-Comeau goal #2... and that is totally valid. Saulnier never took the stick or the body. However, the goal took place right in my line of sight and I can tell you something else that I saw (or didn't see)... that would be Alex Dubeau not reacting to the rebound that Boudreau cashed in on. Third goal was a deflection that he couldn't be faulted for, but it was plain as day #31 for the Cats was simply fighting the puck throughout the first period. For the start of period number two, enter Cole Holowenko.

And enter a completely amped up Cats squad. I have a feeling, based on Flynn's mannerisms on the bench during the timeout he called after the 2-0 goal, that the discussion during the first intermission was a repeat of the second intermission in Cape Breton. If so, he should start laying into them in pregame, because it worked once again. Moncton popped home four in a row, erasing the deficit and looking like a well oiled machine in the process. Passing was on, the numbers were there down low and Baie-Comeau basically backed off as their defense faced a steady stream of pressure and quick, accurate puck distribution... and if the actions of their head coach Eric Veilleux was any indication, they lost focus. One thing I love about the Cats is watching them operate down low when they are skating and passing to their capabilities... in particular, the top two lines. They can move the puck from left to right with the best of them and if they want to give the opposition a different look, they can send a Melindy or a Narbonne or a Racine in deep. They are incredibly strong on the puck when they want to be. By the end of the period, Drakkar goalie Philippe Cadorette was out, Simon Lemieux was in and we had the rare occurrence known as the four goalie game. Everybody gets to play!!! Yay!!! It should be noted that Cadorette could not in any way be faulted by the five goals he let in, I felt Veilleux made absolutely the right move in yanking him just for the sake of getting him out of there. Sometimes it's just what you have to do.

The third was a microcosm of the game itself, featuring excellent cross-ice passing (Yannick Veilleux's goal), poor net front coverage (Zykov's goal) and physical presence (Ross Johnson basically pounding on Gabriel Verpaelst until his hands got sore). The Cats shut things down for good in the latter two minutes of the game - in fact, their resiliency after Zykov's goal was the sort of thing that makes a veteran team a veteran team, in my opinion - and they walked away with two points in yet another example of why not playing 60 minutes will someday come back to bite this team.

Someday could be tomorrow as the Cats face off against Halifax tomorrow at 2PM. Halifax comes in not having played since Friday which - along with having a stronger lineup - should play to their favor. However, Baie-Comeau played their third game in four days today so turnabout is fair play for the Wildcats, one could say. A first period like today for Moncton could become a failure of biblical proportions against the Moose.

As an aside, I understand why this whole "Dickies hardest worker" (aka the fourth star) is given at the end of the game. It's pure promotion and has no bearing on anything... however, just like the three stars, I feel it should be given to the player who actually worked the hardest... throughout the game. That being said, can somebody tell me why Allain Saulnier was picked today? I understand he had four points and played a large role in the comeback, but everything leading up to his first goal wasn't exactly what I'd call "hard working". In fact, his lack of effort in front of the net directly led to the second Baie-Comeau goal (see above). He took two potentially costly penalties in the first period as well. As much as I appreciate both Saulniers and what they (usually) bring to the table every game, that was a misplaced accolade. That is one award that shouldn't be based strictly on points (or who you are). For my money, that award went to Jonathan Narbonne this afternoon.

Elsewhere, UNB walked into the Levesque tonight and should be on their way home by now... as long as they didn't have any issues getting those two points on the bus. 6-2 for the V-Reds over the Aigles in a game that followed the blueprint of last night's Commandos' game... one that should've been exciting but wasn't.

Meanwhile in Pictou, the Commandos get a point for their efforts, but fell 7-6 in OT to the Weeks Crushers. Connor Wilkinson, who probably deserves to kick each of his teammates in the ass if the shots totals are any indication, stopped 44 of 51 Crushers shots in a valiant effort. As has been the case a lot lately, the scoring for the Commandos was spread out; five different goal scorers (led by Zack Cahill's brace), five multi-point guys and nine players total with at least a point. Scoring six and losing is not one of life's great thrills, but for a young defense playing their second game in as many nights with a day of travel in the middle, stuff like this is just going to happen. It's all part of the learning curve. Now it's a long period of rest for Dieppe, who aren't back at it again until a week from tomorrow when they face Campbellton at 2:30 at the AJL.

Also, if you're in front of a TV, Sportsnet is showing a pretty darned entertaining AHL tilt between Milwaukee and Chicago.Gabriel Bourque (Milwaukee) vs. Yann Sauve (Chicago). Good stuff... and once again, it's not the NHL.