It was like déjà vu, well as far as the offensive zone ill-advised undisciplined penalties are concerned for the Moncton Wildcats
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They lost in heartbreaking fashion last night and now find themselves down a massive hole heading to Chicoutimi. The Wildcats showed tremendous character, compete level and resiliency to claw back into the Game, but then gave up a shorthanded goal which derailed their momentum, the Sags responded with yet another goal to make it 4-2.
Alex Mercier’s late 2nd period goal brought life back to the building and set the stage for a pivotal 3rd period.
The Good:
The Sags have been very very good through the first two games. The Wildcats came into to Game 2 with tons of pressure and responded. They were intense, physically engaged, driven and still got down early and yet responded. They have done that all year.
They’re a tight-knit group that never give up. At many points of the game they were performing well above the Sags energy and intensity. The Sags had to match that intensity, which they did, but they didn’t cross the line and stayed more disciplined than the Cats.
The Wildcats “never say die” attitude is incredibly admirable and it’s been on display all season long, but then the bad.
The Bad
As hard as Moncton tried and the effort was there and has been there, all a long, they continue to lack the overall structure, organization and consistency to maintain and sustain their “style” of game for a full 60 minutes.
They made some minor adjustments in Game 2, but not enough to deviate from their regular tendencies to be successful.
Giving up a shorthanded goal in the playoffs is flat out really bad, it happens all of the time in the game of hockey, but that’s one tendency in their game that has been present for the vast majority of the season.
The Ugly
The Sags have forced and dictated the play from a specialty teams perspective through two games, they have exploited the Cats tendencies and that’s exactly what it takes to win in the playoffs.
If you listened to the game or watched the game online or in person at the Avenir Centre you are fully aware of the ugly aspects of Game 2.
Some pundits or critics will say the officiating was ugly, that was definitely not the issue last night especially in the 3rd period. The Wildcats lack of discipline has been ugly through two games.
Perhaps the ugliest aspect of the 3rd period was the fact that a young highly skilled and touted player served both major penalties for the team.
That player didn’t mope or display bad body language going to the penalty box, that young resilient player jumped on the ice after serving both penalties and was unrelenting in the two shifts directly following those majors.
His courage, resiliency and character has been on full display all season long and that young man deserves tons of credit for that.
“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” the Moncton Wildcats woes continue, as they now face the daunting task to try to win 2 of 3 on the road and get the series back to Moncton.
FDS Sports Blog 