With four key players out of the lineup for last night's home game against the Moncton Wildcats, it was up to the rest of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles to step up and fill a few voids.
That they did- in spades.
The Eagles managed to come through with a complete effort and dominant performance en route to thrashing their division rivals 7-3, and outshooting them 41-22. Managing to come up with such a performance with four key guys out of the lineup is a testament to how prepared the team was for this game, and how hard the guys worked out there. The challenge now is to be able to translate such preparation and intensity, on a consistent basis, over to games where the team has their full lineup.
Cape Breton received particularly great performances from Robert Slaney (1 G, 2 A), James Sheppard (2 G, 2 A), and especially JC Sawyer, who followed up his record-setting six-point game on Sunday with a FIVE-point effort last night (1 G, 4 A). Sawyer now has 11 points in his last two hockey games, totals which are simply staggering, especially for a defenceman. JC now has 61 points on the season, and is really closing in on Mathieu Dumas' team record for points in a season by a defenceman (69, back in 2001-2002).
The Eagles jumped out to a quick 4-0 first period lead and never really looked back. Moncton scored two quick ones midway through the first period to cut the lead to 4-2, but a Chris Culligan goal (finishing off a great rush by Sheppard) in the period's final minute gave Cape Breton a 5-2 lead after the first frame and, more importantly, swung momentum back in their favour. That first period was where most of the game's excitement occurred; the final two periods were pretty pedestrian.
With that character win, the Eagles move one point ahead of the Wildcats for sole possession of second place in the East Division. They also sit second overall in the league, as they managed to pass the Val d'or Foreurs as well last night. The team now trails the league-leading Lewiston MAINEiacs by six points, with Lewiston holding a game in hand (they play it tonight, in Saint John against the Sea Dogs).
Cape Breton finishes the five-game home stand with four wins and a loss, and their high-scoring wins in the last two home games will hopefully inject the team with confidence as they embark today on an important three-game weekend road trip. They will play Friday night in Shawinigan against the Cataractes, who sit in ninth place in the ten-team Telus Division. On Saturday, they take on the Victoriaville Tigres, who are near the top of the Telus and possess one of the best home ice records in the league. Finally, Sunday sees the Eagles travelling across the US border to take on the Lewiston MAINEiacs in a crucial matchup that needs no further billing!
Hopefully, a few of the guys missing from last night's game will be able to return on this road trip, and hopefully the team will be able to translate the desperation with which they played last night over to such games where they have a full lineup. Last night's game was not only an important two points in the standings; it was a reminder of exactly what got this Eagles team to where it is in the first place.
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4 comments:
Well we saw how things turned out last night and it turn out being a 7-3 win for the Eagles everyone has to agree that it was great to see the eagles turn it up with so many talented players out.So the win against Monton was great and now with that out of the way the eagles have to turn there sightes to the road trip and Lewiston and with there last ten games there 5-2-2-1 with a three game winning steak so the Eagle should know they can't kid around with there being sixteen games left in the season if they want to take first in the Eastern Divison either way Cape Breton's behide ya eagles you can do it GO EAGLES GO !!!!
Way to go team! Sawyer,I don't know what to say - CONGRATULATIONS- you are a class act!!!!!!!
On the first note, I would really like to say CONGRATULATIONS to Jc Sawyer. I have been a fan for so long and I am so pleased to see him come out with such great games these past two days. You really deserve it! Amazing job Jc!
On the other note, I just wanted to say that these next few games will be interesting, especially Lewiston, but if the Eagles play the same way they did in these past few games, we should come out with the win. Good luck boys, and I'm hoping to see Cam, Scott, Luc, and Johnathan back really soon. GO EAGLES GO!!!!!
Great weekend for the boys and great showing by Sawyer.
I mentioned this before in past posts, probably the most improved D since joining the team, especially his defensive awareness.
I know he still has a lot of boo'ers in the stands, many fans are still hard on him and probably not justified most times. The only thing I would like him to improve on is his physical play. he needs to learn how to throw his weight around a bit more. if he added that one aspect to his game, he would be one of the best overall D in the league.
Side note, need to give kudos to Brad Gallant. Nice to see him get that goal, he works hard to get the few minutes of ice time he gets.
He accepts his part on the team, knows he is strictly a role player, and for his size and weight, does an outstanding job as the teams only enforcer. Drops the gloves with anyone no matter how big, takes the licks and keeps on ticking, and even has 10 goals.
Not bad for a rookie tough guy who is usually out-sized with a majority of guys he drops the gloves with.
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