Farewell to Nova Scotia (Thank God)

This place = apparently not all hospitality and lighthouses.

So Nova Scotia squads kicked two local teams square in the nether regions last night. To be honest, the two losses weren't the most surprising things in the world as the host teams in both scenarios are more talented on paper (and were looking for revenge after recently dropping previous games to their visitors)

The Moncton Wildcats have proven that they can compete with the Halifax Mooseheads. If they bring their "A" game, there's no reason why they can't run neck and neck with the Moose. The problem with Moncton for much of the season has been consistency  From game to game, period to period, shift to shift you just don't know what you're getting. Last night's result? A 2-0 lead blown, a lethargic final half of the game for the visitors and the inability to stop the bleeding once the Moose came alive. That game is probably the best example I've seen this year as to why Halifax is - as of right now, anyway - the favorites to win it all. No team can capitalize on mistakes like them (see Martin Frk goal) or collapse down low with such a high degree of success (see Darcy Ashley goal #2). The biggest difference between the two teams that skated out onto Metro Center ice last night? One team has the invaluable ability to recognize a loss in momentum and respond in kind.

For the Cats, they get a crack at the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Tuesday night. This will mark the final game of the Dimitri Jaskin suspension... and perhaps the first game of Ross Johnston's. The Moncton forward swung his stick into the face of Moose dman Brian Lovell last night and in the process, broke Lovell's jaw. Looking at the reply, I'm inclined to believe Willy Pavlov's theory that the stick got stuck in the glass and Johnston, in the process of wrenching it free, inadvertently cranked his opponent with it. No penalty was assessed on the play and if a suspension is forthcoming (Moose brass has sent in the tape), I'd expect it to be no more than a game or thereabouts for some degree of carelessness on Johnston's part. Unlike the Jaskin incident last Monday night against Rimouski, I saw no ill intent on that play.

About three hours south of the Metro Center, the Yarmouth Mariners played host to the Dieppe Commandos and won both the game and a measure of revenge against their visitors, atoning for an OT loss at the AJL last weekend with a 3-0 victory last night. The Mariners, still within striking distance in the race for first overall in the MHL standings, got things started early... 21 seconds into the match, to be exact. After spending long stretches of their last meeting in Dieppe on the perimeter, the Mariners did a better job of penetrating the higher scoring areas in front of Connor Wilkinson by all accounts. In fact, Wilkinson was one of the key reasons why the game remained close at times. Credit the Commandos for hanging in as much as possible as they continue to keep most of their games close - particularly road games against the powerhouses of the MHL.

Dieppe resumes action next Saturday night... again on the road... again versus a formidable opponent. This time, it's a date with the Amherst Ramblers at the good old Stadium, aka "the building that cheers when visiting teams need medical attention". Welcome to "The Jungle", indeed.

How will Nova Scotia treat the locals tonight? The U de M Aigles Bleus hope it's very favorably. Les Aigles take to the ice at 7PM in Wolfville as the hometown Acadia Axemen look to take the deciding game of their opening round playoff series. U de M took the first game of this series on the road Wednesday night, scoring timely goals and relying on an unbelievable performance from Andre Guay. If the visiting team has any say in the matter, they'll try to rely more on the former and much less on the latter tonight.

Finally, if you have been riding out this latest storm by watching the just completed Penguins/Sabres game, congratulations. Not only did you get to hear the rare treat that is Gord Miller on NBC, you probably just witnessed some of the best hockey that will be played this season at any level.