24-8-2-3. That’s a hell of a record. Actually, that record has the Moncton Wildcats 5th overall in the QMJHL. Nevertheless, it’s more about “how”, than how many wins for the Wildcats as they head down the stretch.
Obviously, you have to give credit where credit is due, the Cats have found ways to win a lot of games, their record proves that, especially in the last 10 they are 6-1-1-2 which is very respectable. Again, all of the numbers and analytics look good on the surface.
Photo Credit Daniel St Louis
You can look at and study their specialty teams percentages which are great, and you can look at the amount of goals they have scored which currently have them sitting at 4th in the circuit as a critical components to their success and you wouldn’t be wrong in saying that, but you have to go even deeper than that. You can spout off, how good they are playing with the lead after scoring first and the list goes on and on, which is great and all, but how do the Moncton Wildcats perform and how well will the Wildcats perform when the heat is on?
How do they perform when pressured or when certain aspects of their structure are challenged and taken away?
How do the Wildcats perform or execute their game plan in 5 on 5 situations late in games?
How have the Wildcats performed on home ice? Again, you can look at their record for all of the superficial data, but how does their overall game change at home versus the road?
Sure, their stats are solid when leading, but this is the regular season, and things drastically change in the second half and in the playoffs.
This weekend is going to be another big test and measuring stick weekend for the Cats. Obviously, the Cats find themselves in the upper echelon of the league, but the real question remains are they contenders or pretenders at this stage of the game?
The QMJHL is a league built on speed and offence, where teams attack and do tons of damage off the rush or on the power play. Can teams built like that compete and win the games that matter most in the post season?
At times this season the Wildcats have struggled when pressured. Their breakout scheme and ability to attack with speed has been neutralized at times by improper spacing, lack of execution and puck management. Small, skilled and speedy teams absolutely hate having their time and space taken away. The Cats want to play fast, but at what cost? The Cats are built to recoil and generate off the rush, so how can the Wildcats collectively solve those variables coming down the stretch?
Proper puck support, management and spacing are easy fixes or adjustments to make on the fly. Everyone will point to the Cats D-corps as the root cause of turnovers or puck mismanagement, but that’s always a two-way street. When the Cats have layers to their regroups and transitions, they are tough to defend against based on their overall team speed, which is no doubt one aspect that sets them apart from other teams in the league. The Wildcats are undoubtedly one of the top 3 fastest teams in the league. Speed kills, but when you want to play fast, you also have to support the puck and you also have to be willing to go get it.
The Cats are a solid forechecking and cycle team, but that’s where some other breakdowns have occurred. When disjointed neutral zone layering and poor puck support arises teams that play fast revert to the “tip dump” to start generating. The Cats have to use their speed, but they also have to be willing to compete for those pucks when the time comes. That’s where the intangibles have to come into effect. Do the Wildcats have enough balance, character and grit in their forward group to win those puck battles in the postseason?
That’s an area one would assume the Cats would address in the second half to guarantee they’re ready for the playoffs.
The will to compete are most prevalent in 5 on 5 scenarios. The Wildcats have struggled with their DZC (defensive zone coverage) in 5 on 5 situations, they have also struggled gapping up on transition opportunities. Consistency in their defensive schemes takes discipline and accountability from top to bottom. At times this season, the Cats have had a few passengers in this area. The lack of defensive urgency, ownership and consistency is a troubling trend, which will need to definitely be addressed now well before the start of the playoffs.
If the Moncton Wildcats want to be contenders, they will have to tighten up certain areas of their game. Those areas frequently go unnoticed or ignored by superficial analysis especially when stats and analytics overshadow the entire process.
The real questions to pose at this juncture of the season still remain similar to the ones posed in the written on November 7, 2023.
Are the Moncton Wildcats a playoff team? Are they a tough team to play against? Do they possess enough character and grit throughout their line up to be nasty to play against in a grueling playoff series? Are they built for that type of series and a long playoff run?
Can they play or adapt to any style of game on the fly to ensure they’re successful against any opponent? Time will tell, but as you can see that goes well beyond flashy numbers or the stat sheet.
The Moncton Wildcats stretch drive is more about “how” to prepare and play a winning brand of playoff hockey than just racking up regular season “W’s”.
Are the Moncton Wildcats going to make a change to their game plan and approach heading into the playoffs?
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