The Untouchables?

The Moncton Wildcats are rolling, they seem almost untouchable right now. The highly skilled offensively gifted team continues to put up impressive numbers and are starting to dominate teams, as they should. The Cats are loaded for bear. Everything is pointing toward a long playoff run and a championship or maybe two. Nevertheless, are the Moncton Wildcats truly untouchable, do they have any holes and if so, how are teams going to exploit them in the playoffs?

Photo Credit Daniel St Louis

Wildcat Weaknesses?

Any team is beatable, and you better believe that’s probably the message that is being delivered this time of the year by the entire Wildcats coaching staff, but are there any teams in the QMJHL that could beat the Cats in a seven-game series right now? It’s easy to get wrapped up in all the individual, team success, excitement and amazing offensive numbers right now, but how are the Cats going to address their potential weaknesses or tendencies if they have any moving forward?

What are the Moncton Wildcats weaknesses? That’s probably the question many teams have been asking during their advanced scouting video meetings lately. They might be rolling now and running on all cylinders, but there are still some areas that one would assume they need to be addressed or tightened up heading into the second season.

Let’s Get Physical

Countless teams have challenged and tested the Wildcats from a physicality perspective this season and the group has responded. The Wildcats are somewhat vulnerable when confronted with a heavy team that’s fast and that forechecks effectively and efficiently.

All ultra skilled teams love their time and space, Moncton is no different, but they have to realize that they will have to earn that in the postseason and that’s a mindset that the team will have to bring night in and night out.

The Cats have an amazing defensive corps full of great puck movers, but the D corps struggles sometimes when consistently pressured and when their outlets are eliminated.

At times they are quick to turn pucks over when pressured down low or force the issue in neutral zone regroups. Their overall puck management skills have vastly improved especially in the last 10 games or so, but the D corps need to continue to buy in and stay committed to their program and structure to reach their full potential when it matters most.

The Cats have struggled at times when there are different layers of forecheck pressure or when they force the issue or try to generate transition when it’s not there. Obviously, they want to process, play fast and get up ice, but they also need to make the right plays at the right times and sometimes those are the five or six foot passes instead of trying to stretch things out. Their efficiency and effectiveness skyrocket when they’re dialed in and patient back there.

This is no doubt the largest area of improvement the Cats have made this season.

Under Pressure

If a team can get in and take away the Cats options early on their breakouts it will force the defensive corps to wrap the boards which in turn will create puck battles on the half boards. The Cats know all too well that come playoff time teams will be leaning on them very heavily with pressure and physicality.

They must be willing to get their noses dirty. Handling forecheck pressure isn’t all about the D either, both netminders are very good at moving the puck which has been a very noticeable feature on the Wildcats transition options. The Cats forwards do support the puck well, but when the team has struggled which hasn’t been a lot this season that’s one area that was lacking which was their spacing and routes in transition especially through the neutral zone or for quick ups.

No one likes to be hit, especially skilled puck moving defencemen. So how do you eliminate or neutralize speed and mobility, you hit everything in sight. The Cats have to rely on their processing, speed and systems to play at their best.

Wildcat forwards will have to track back to pucks better if they’re confronted with a team that’s hard on the forecheck or elects to take multiple options away. Teams that have chosen to pinch down low this season have been burnt by the Cats and that trend will no doubt continue. You see that’s where the Cats will have the upper hand if teams want to play a relentless forecheck game. The Cats forwards are so skilled and fast that they will generate a lot of odd man rushes in open ice when going indirect off the boards and getting into the soft areas and seams through the neutral zone that’s where the Cats are at their best in open ice where they can create.

Winning Battles

The Cats will have to be very committed as a team on winning puck battles in all three zones. Obviously, they haven’t lost a lot this year, but there are a few tendencies to their game like winning puck battles, transitional defence and DZC (defensive zone coverage) are just a few areas of their game that deserve some attention heading into the postseason. When the Cats haven’t played at their best, they were sluggish on the forecheck. Again, this was a rarity, but it was definitely a tendency at times this year especially early on. The Cats hunt pucks with the best of them and obviously that’s a “Gardiner MacDougall” staple, but when you’re too aggressive you’re susceptible to giving up odd man rushes at times.

The Cats D gap control and spacing is another area that they have worked really hard on, but that’s one area that teams might want to attack or expose. The Cats back check very well, and really track back well, but they also have a tendency to over back check and then puck watch. The goals they have given up off the rush this year comes from being overly aggressive on the offensive blueline or missed assignments on the back check. Obviously, rebound control plays into second chance opportunities, the Cats goaltenders have to be sharper in that area heading into the playoffs as well.

DZC breakdowns happen when players try to do too much or aren’t engaged. Breakdowns happen and the Cats have good structure and layers, but they have struggled at times managing pucks and defending below the dots. Again, this a minuscule tendency, but it’s still a tendency.

If you forecheck with purpose, you must back check with urgency. There can’t be any passengers when the puck drops in the post season.

Every Wildcat forward must be willing to play a full 200ft game and they have to continue to trust and buy into MacDougal’s system.

Specialty Teams

Great teams and great power plays will make their opponents pay a price.

The Wildcats power play has to continue to keep teams honest. It has to be a deterrent, and it has to send messages. “If you’re going to take runs or cross the line, we are going to kick your ass on the power play and make you pay.” That has to be the mantra of the Wildcats heading into the postseason.

The Cats PP has been a bone of continental amongst some critics and fans, especially after the trade period, but there’s just too much talent up front and on the backend not to have a wagon of a man advantage. The Cats power play has struggled at times especially when it comes to zone entries. Once set up the Cats have to move the puck and themselves with purpose and conviction. At times this season when they have struggled on the PP they have over complicated things or haven’t moved the puck fast enough especially from the backend. The addition of Dyllan Gill has drastically changed the power play for the better. The man advantage has looked more consistent and composed since his arrival. Obviously, we haven’t seen all of the variations or options because great teams will practice those but not showcase them until the playoff begins. That’s just great coaching.

When the Cats power play struggles there is a more “wish and prayer” feel to it instead of being consistent and composed. The 2^nd unit has been better as of late, but they also need to bring that consistency to their look and structure. Getting shots through is one thing, it’s all about shot selection, and pucks and players have to move for the 2^nd unit to be effective.

The Wildcats have all the weapons, but teams will start keying in on certain Wildcat tendencies and trends, the entire group have to be prepared for that. The Cats have no trouble scoring goals in any scenario, but saying the Cats power play has to be a difference maker in the post season would be an understatement.

“Know Your Role“

Depth isn’t going to be an issue for the Wildcats, however, the only way their depth is going to be called into question is if their shift length and time on ice numbers skyrocket for their Top 6 and Top 4. Budgeting ice time for the final handful of games might be something the Cats coaching staff will look at especially if certain players are banged up. The Cats need to stay healthy, but you can say that about any major junior team. One aspect to ensure you stay healthy is staying fresh. The Cats best players have to be their best players, but they have played a shit ton of hockey this year. Obviously, every player is itching to start the playoffs and start their march towards a championship or two, but players need to be fresh and full of energy.

Clearly every player on the Cats roster know their roles, but it’s imperative that they trust one and another, stick to the system and play to their identity no matter what.  

Whenever you have a highly skilled elite level team, some players because they care so much will want to take it on themselves come playoff time to ensure the group wins, which is great and all, but that can become a double-edged sword.

The Cats have “shared the wealth” so to speak all year, but at times you could see some players take it on themselves. Selfish play creeps in when things get tight or under extreme pressure. The Cats haven’t been selfish all year, but at times some players noticeably and intentionally hung on to pucks or have taken ill advised shots. Again, this is a very minuscule observation, but it has happened from time to time throughout the season. Playing to your identity is quintessential for any team with championship aspirations. You can have all of your gamebreakers and key go to guys, but if they don’t play as a group when it counts those teams won’t reach the level, they’re capable of. Again, this is an observation, but if it happened in the regular season, there’s a possibility of it occurring in the playoffs especially when the heats on.

“Pressure is a Privilege”

“Pressure is a privilege,” but the Moncton Wildcats and diehard hockey crazed fans need to understand that this post season isn’t going to walk in the park. The Wildcats will face adversity you can count on that. It’s how they will deal and adjust to that adversity that will really tell the story and makeup of the group. The Wildcats have faced some adversity and some not so good stretches this season, which were highly scrutinized by their fanbase, but it’s those instances that will and have been so crucial for the growth of this team. Playoff hockey isn’t perfect, it’s all about doing what it takes to win. There’s no guarantee that the Moncton Wildcats will win it all, the Cats braintrust and coaching staff have done a great job all season long. Pressure might be a privilege, but extreme expectations for this year’s hockey club will no doubt be in the back of everyone’s mind when the puck is dropped.  Winning a championship or two isn’t easy, everything needs to fall in place, that’s what makes championship teams so special.  Are the Moncton Wildcats a special group? Are the Moncton Wildcats untouchable when it comes to the QMJHL?

Time will tell.