Post by dogcatcher on Feb 7, 2008 8:08:14 GMT -4
Dogs look to be road warriors
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday February 7th, 2008
Appeared on page B7
SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs head to Quebec today for the second of three extended road trips against teams from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Telus division.
The team is in good shape in the standings, leading the Eastern division with seven wins in the last 10 contests. However, the Sea Dogs have developed a bad habit lately. Saint John has built solid leads in several recent wins only to see a late comeback forcing tense moments in the final minutes.
It happened against two of the teams they'll face on the upcoming road trip in the Victoriaville Tigres and Drummondville Voltigeurs. In both games, Saint John gave up a three-goal lead and then hung on for a one-goal victory.
Team captain Alex Grant said it's something the team is aware of and looking to fix.
"We've been getting up a few goals early and assuming the other team is just going to roll over and die, and we can't do that," he said. "You don't win games in the first period, second or third; you have to win over a full 60 minutes."
The Sea Dogs also have a target on their backs when they take on teams lower in the standings. Being the top team in the East and one of three QMJHL squads with a national ranking provides extra motivation for opponents.
"We've got to realize teams lower in the standings are going to give us their best shot," Grant said. "We've got to think about that going into games and up our intensity."
One reason for the struggles putting teams away is the penalty kill. For most of the second-half of the season, the play while a man down has been hurting the team. Earlier in the season, the Sea Dogs were among the league leaders when shorthanded, but have dropped to 15th out of 18 teams in the QMJHL.
Sunday's 6-5 road win over the Moncton Wildcats was a prime example. Saint John allowed four power-play goals - including two in the third period - after leading 6-2. Head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu is developing two distinct penalty-kill units, one passive and one pressure, to get back on track.
"It's coming," Beaulieu said. "We're not where we want to be, that's for sure.
"We've got to keep working on it and block more shots, get in lanes and we're not doing that right now."
Playing on the road magnifies the importance of the penalty kill for the head coach.
"When you're on the road, playing against a team lower in the standings, they have the momentum and it's hard to defend."
The Sea Dogs open the three-game road swing on Friday in Victoriaville at 8:30 p.m.
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday February 7th, 2008
Appeared on page B7
SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs head to Quebec today for the second of three extended road trips against teams from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Telus division.
The team is in good shape in the standings, leading the Eastern division with seven wins in the last 10 contests. However, the Sea Dogs have developed a bad habit lately. Saint John has built solid leads in several recent wins only to see a late comeback forcing tense moments in the final minutes.
It happened against two of the teams they'll face on the upcoming road trip in the Victoriaville Tigres and Drummondville Voltigeurs. In both games, Saint John gave up a three-goal lead and then hung on for a one-goal victory.
Team captain Alex Grant said it's something the team is aware of and looking to fix.
"We've been getting up a few goals early and assuming the other team is just going to roll over and die, and we can't do that," he said. "You don't win games in the first period, second or third; you have to win over a full 60 minutes."
The Sea Dogs also have a target on their backs when they take on teams lower in the standings. Being the top team in the East and one of three QMJHL squads with a national ranking provides extra motivation for opponents.
"We've got to realize teams lower in the standings are going to give us their best shot," Grant said. "We've got to think about that going into games and up our intensity."
One reason for the struggles putting teams away is the penalty kill. For most of the second-half of the season, the play while a man down has been hurting the team. Earlier in the season, the Sea Dogs were among the league leaders when shorthanded, but have dropped to 15th out of 18 teams in the QMJHL.
Sunday's 6-5 road win over the Moncton Wildcats was a prime example. Saint John allowed four power-play goals - including two in the third period - after leading 6-2. Head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu is developing two distinct penalty-kill units, one passive and one pressure, to get back on track.
"It's coming," Beaulieu said. "We're not where we want to be, that's for sure.
"We've got to keep working on it and block more shots, get in lanes and we're not doing that right now."
Playing on the road magnifies the importance of the penalty kill for the head coach.
"When you're on the road, playing against a team lower in the standings, they have the momentum and it's hard to defend."
The Sea Dogs open the three-game road swing on Friday in Victoriaville at 8:30 p.m.