Post by dogcatcher on Nov 2, 2007 6:34:53 GMT -4
Sea Dogs prefer repeat performance from loss
Deck head
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Friday November 2nd, 2007
Appeared on page B12
SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs played two polar opposite games in their last two Quebec Major Junior Hockey League outings.
Saint John played a sloppy game against the St. John's Fog Devils on Saturday, but pulled out a 6-5 shootout victory. On Tuesday, the Sea Dogs were sound defensively and had their opportunities on offence, but lost 2-1 in a shootout to the Lewiston Maineiacs. This weekend, the team would rather play like they did in the loss than repeat their winning performance against St. John's.
The Sea Dogs will play a pair of games tonight and Saturday in Newfoundland against the Fog Devils.
Saint John head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu said the team's defence is much improved from their last contest with St. John's when they fell behind 5-1 early on.
"Our defensive zone coverage was really good against Lewiston," Beaulieu said. "We had kind of slipped away from it in the game's against Newfoundland and Bathurst."
The reason for the change in their own end wasn't a grand scheme, but good fundamental hockey, said Sea Dogs captain Alex Grant.
"We just took our man against (Lewiston)," he said. "That's what we've been doing for most of the year and we just got away from it for a couple of games."
While Tuesday night's loss wasn't a good one for the team and coaches to evaluate five-on-five play with 25 minor penalties called, it was a good opportunity to judge how the special teams are doing.
Saint John killed off 12 of 13 penalties while connecting for a power-play marker. Beaulieu said he's happy with his team's play when a man down.
"It's going really good right now," Beaulieu said. "We're forcing the play, getting sticks in the passing lanes and doing what we're supposed to be doing."
As for the power play, what has been a sore spot this season has come around lately with at least one man-advantage marker in the last three contests.
Saint John has also shown a willingness to try new things by sending out five forwards on the special teams unit.
"The five forwards are doing well and they turned the game around for us against (the Fog Devils)," Grant said.
The improved defence and special teams are good signs for two games on the Rock, but the Sea Dogs will also have to be aware of another factor against St. John's. Both Fog Devil goaltenders Timo Peilmeier and Jake Allen are skilled puck handlers. Beaulieu said this can be a problem in getting the forecheck going, but sees a couple of ways of neutralizing the issue.
"We've got to keep our dump ins away from them so they don't handle the puck," the head coach said. "Another way we feel we can take that away is getting control and keeping it in their zone."
The Sea Dogs take to the ice tonight in a 6:30 p.m. start.
IN AND OUT: Forward Ryan Sparling made a successful return to the lineup on Tuesday scoring the Sea Dogs' lone regulation goal. A decision has not been made on the status of Sea Dogs defenceman David Stich for tonight's game. Beaulieu said the 18-year-old is improving everyday after missing Tuesday's game with a back injury.
"Stich is a work in progress," he said. "I would say he's 50 per cent now."
Deck head
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Friday November 2nd, 2007
Appeared on page B12
SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs played two polar opposite games in their last two Quebec Major Junior Hockey League outings.
Saint John played a sloppy game against the St. John's Fog Devils on Saturday, but pulled out a 6-5 shootout victory. On Tuesday, the Sea Dogs were sound defensively and had their opportunities on offence, but lost 2-1 in a shootout to the Lewiston Maineiacs. This weekend, the team would rather play like they did in the loss than repeat their winning performance against St. John's.
The Sea Dogs will play a pair of games tonight and Saturday in Newfoundland against the Fog Devils.
Saint John head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu said the team's defence is much improved from their last contest with St. John's when they fell behind 5-1 early on.
"Our defensive zone coverage was really good against Lewiston," Beaulieu said. "We had kind of slipped away from it in the game's against Newfoundland and Bathurst."
The reason for the change in their own end wasn't a grand scheme, but good fundamental hockey, said Sea Dogs captain Alex Grant.
"We just took our man against (Lewiston)," he said. "That's what we've been doing for most of the year and we just got away from it for a couple of games."
While Tuesday night's loss wasn't a good one for the team and coaches to evaluate five-on-five play with 25 minor penalties called, it was a good opportunity to judge how the special teams are doing.
Saint John killed off 12 of 13 penalties while connecting for a power-play marker. Beaulieu said he's happy with his team's play when a man down.
"It's going really good right now," Beaulieu said. "We're forcing the play, getting sticks in the passing lanes and doing what we're supposed to be doing."
As for the power play, what has been a sore spot this season has come around lately with at least one man-advantage marker in the last three contests.
Saint John has also shown a willingness to try new things by sending out five forwards on the special teams unit.
"The five forwards are doing well and they turned the game around for us against (the Fog Devils)," Grant said.
The improved defence and special teams are good signs for two games on the Rock, but the Sea Dogs will also have to be aware of another factor against St. John's. Both Fog Devil goaltenders Timo Peilmeier and Jake Allen are skilled puck handlers. Beaulieu said this can be a problem in getting the forecheck going, but sees a couple of ways of neutralizing the issue.
"We've got to keep our dump ins away from them so they don't handle the puck," the head coach said. "Another way we feel we can take that away is getting control and keeping it in their zone."
The Sea Dogs take to the ice tonight in a 6:30 p.m. start.
IN AND OUT: Forward Ryan Sparling made a successful return to the lineup on Tuesday scoring the Sea Dogs' lone regulation goal. A decision has not been made on the status of Sea Dogs defenceman David Stich for tonight's game. Beaulieu said the 18-year-old is improving everyday after missing Tuesday's game with a back injury.
"Stich is a work in progress," he said. "I would say he's 50 per cent now."