Maine Hockey Journal

Maineiacs looking at a four-point weekend

The Lewiston Maineiacs are focused on what they need to do to earn four points in this weekend’s matchup against the Victoriaville Tigres.

“(Victoriaville) still has a pretty good team, but all we (have) to do is play our game,” said Maineiacs head coach J.F. Houle. “We have to worry about us and no else. We (need) to worry what we do and not them.”

The Tigres are coming into the Androscoggin Bank Colisee sitting in fourth place in the TELUS East division, just one point behind the Maineiacs.

The Maineiacs know they can’t let a lead slip away against a divisional opponent.

“It was a hard week of practice,” Houle said. “We (worked) hard on keeping a lead, so this weekend if we have the lead, I expect (to) keep the lead.”

“The same things have happened over and over again,” he added. “We’ve got to make sure we get it across their heads that we aren’t going to stand for it as a (coaching staff).”

Lewiston lost in shootout, 5-4, last Wednesday against Rouyn-Noranda, holding a 4-3 lead heading into the third period. On Sunday, they nearly let another game slip away, losing the lead with less than a minute left in the game, needing overtime for the victory.

The two teams faced each other in the pre-season, but you can’t look at what the teams did in exhibition.

“It will be a completely different game and completely different rosters,” Houle stated. “They were just pre-season games.”

For the record, the Maineiacs won both pre-season contests 5-2 and 4-2, respectfully.

Houle didn’t announce who will start in net this weekend, but was impressed how Andrey Makarov played last weekend as he recorded a shutout Friday against Rouyn-Noranda.

“He made all the big saves (on Friday),” said Houle. “The team in front of him played real well and limited the turnovers. It was a good team win.”

The first game of the weekend is Friday night at 7 p.m. which is their “Pink the Rink” night. The two teams go at it again Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m.

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