3-0 shutout over the top team in the CHL... outshooting them by a nearly 2-1 margin... basically allowing nothing other than play from the perimeter for pretty much the entire third... just as I expected. Minus all of the above, of course.
Let's get one thing out of the way right off the bat... the Moose didn't bring their "A" game... maybe they gave it up in lieu of toll money at the Cobequid Pass. But I'd like to think that everyone who was in the Coliseum today and knows even a smidgen about the league realizes that the Halifax Mooseheads are still a force to be reckoned with... and I suspect the next matchup between these two teams (December 15th in Moncton, for the record) will be a little more hotly contested. I also feel for the Mooseheads' next opponent (Chicoutimi, Friday night at the Metro Center) as I suspect they will be incurring some sort of wrath that directly relates to today's game.
Now that the preamble is out of the way, that was the best game the Wildcats have played all year at home. The game against Blainville-Boisbriand on November 3rd (also a 3-0 win) came close, but the fact that the Cats shut down not only the Moose in general, but in particular their top two forwards (Nathan McKinnon and Jonathan Drouin were a combined -1 with zero shots) with authority was particularly commendable. All four lines bottled up the Moose for the first two periods, then with the bench shortened, the Cats stayed the course in the third, working the 1-2-2 to perfection, winning the battles along the wall and showing tremendous patience with the puck in all three zones (maybe a little too much patience on that extended powerplay sequence in the third, but I digress). If I was to guess, that would have to have been the most technically sound game the team has played since sometime in the 2009-2010 championship season. Much like the second period and latter stages of the third against Baie-Comeau, the Cats went into "veteran mode" and did pretty much everything well to frustrate the Moose. When required, Alex Dubeau made a handful of big saves, none bigger than a big glove save from in close off the stock of Stefan Fournier in the second period. If he can gain some traction from games like this and find some confidence and consistency, maybe the biggest question mark for this Cats team could answer itself. The only two homes games in which I've seen (almost all of them) where he hasn't allowed a weak goal have been the two shutouts. Games like today keep me holding out hope... for now.
Long story short, today was the sort of game that would make any coach, player or fan proud. As much as the Moose didn't threaten, the Cats simply didn't give them much in the way of opportunities for long stretches as well. Seeing the Moose fourth line out there for Dominique Ducharme for much of the last couple of minutes told the story of the game. The big guns were simply not firing for Halifax and the frustration on their faces was evident. It was just one of those games.
Also, thank you to whomever picked Jonathan Narbonne for the hardest worker award. I'll assume you were reading this blog yesterday and took it to heart (which I'm sure you didn't).The Moncton dman was, for my money, the most consistent player on the Coliseum ice this weekend.
Another weekend home stand coming up for the Cats, with Victoriaville arriving on Friday night and Chicoutimi visiting on Saturday. Play like they did today (and for about 30 minutes yesterday) and it wouldn't be outside the realm of reality to see this team on a five game win streak (and winners of eight of their last nine) by this time next week. Time to make hay while the sun shines.
Elsewhere, the Moncton Flyers picked up where they left off before winning the Monctonian, winning 4-3 in OT over Miramichi. League leading scorer Alex Bradley got things going for the Flyers, but the Rivermen held tough, weathering a barrage from Moncton, who led on the shot clock by a 44-24 count. Michael Poirier's goal at 4:54 of OT proved to be the difference maker as the Flyers improved to 13-2-1 on the season, retaining a healthy six point lead over Saint John for first overall in the league standings.
The Commandos get an extended vacation this week, not playing again until next Sunday, December 2nd against Campbellton at the AJL. Dieppe will be looking to break a two game winless streak while Campbellton will be looking to exact revenge over the Commandos, who defeated the Tigers in a home and home a week and a half ago by a combined score of 13-6.
Another busy weekend of hockey on the horizon... this really is the most wonderful time of the year.
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