Battle for first place continues

[Caribous insider]

Battle for first place continues
Caribous stomp out Cats on their home turf

BARBARA DEAN-SIMMONS
The Packet


It was the kind of weekend fans of the Clarenville Caribous had been hoping for.

It just doesn't get any better than two solid wins on your opponent's turf.

And that's just what the Caribous did on the weekend, handing the first-place Grand Falls Cataracts back-to-back losses at the Grand Falls arena.

The Caribous were first on the scoreboard in Saturday night's game, with a goal by Ryan Lauzon, assisted by Andrew Pearcy and Chris Mooney at 9:46 of the first period.

The herd added another one just under two minutes later, with a shot by Brad Crann, to close the period 2-0.

Pearcy added the herd's third marker just three minutes into the second period, while the Cats came back to score two - Rodi Shot and Ryan Delaney did the honours - to close the period one point behind their challengers.

Grand Falls, however, lost their steam in the third. They were unable to get past Caribous netminder Jason Churchill. Ryan Lauzon's marker at 7:43 proved to be the final for the game, to wrap up the game with a 4-2 win.

Saturday's game proved a dead heat when it came to shots on goal, with each side managing 36 attempts at the other net.

Saturday's game was also a tit-for-tat when it came to penalties. The Cataracts racked up 26 minutes in penalties, most of them two-minute minors. Gregg Hoffe and Tritan Mason each got tossed for five minutes for fighting.

And the Caribous proved they could serve up the aggression just as well. They collected 39 minutes worth of time-out. Grant Mooney Kenney and Lloyd Sacrey were each served with 10-minute game misconducts. Even the bench staff got in on the action, with assistant coach Ivan Hapgood handed a 20-minute game misconduct.

By the time Sunday rolled around, it seemed the Caribous had turned over a new leaf and were ready to focus on pure hockey.

They collected only three two-minute minor penalties on their way to a 6-3 over the Cats.

Andrew Pearcy collected a hat trick in this game, scoring twice in the second period and once in the third. Other points were added by Ryan Lauzon, Mitch Oake and Mike Sibley.

Jason Hedges notched two goals for Grand Falls while David Philpott added a single.

But the Cats were finished with scoring midway through the second period and the third stanza saw them try hard - 16 shots on goal - but fail to outsmart Churchill, the keeper of the Caribous' gate.

Cataracts' coach Paul Glavine was noble in defeat.

"You've got to give those guys credit; they came here with a game plan and clogged up the neutral zone Saturday night."

He says the Cats expected that, and prepared for it, but "we never had the puck in the offensive zone enough to challenge them."

As for Sunday's game, he says while Grand Falls managed to score in the first and second, they couldn't seem to make their plans work in the last half of the game.

"Give Clarenville full credit; it seemed like they wanted the win more and they outworked us for the majority of the weekend."

Clarenville coach Randy Pearcy remains philosophical about hockey.

"I've always said that the hockey season consists of three sections - before Christmas, after Christmas and the playoffs.

"When you go into the playoffs you need to be going in on a high. Home ice advantage means nothing; if you are a good hockey team you can play in anybody's building."

He added, "When you get to the playoffs it's a different brand of hockey and I think that is the brand of hockey we decided to play this weekend. A close checking game with speed."

This weekend the Cataracts are out for a turnaround when they come to Clarenville for the Caribous last regular season, home-ice games.

With their win on the weekend, Clarenville is now just two points behind Grand Falls for first place in the regular season.

Wins this weekend would move them into top spot.

However, with two more games left after this weekend for both the Cats and the Caribous, it's still anyone's guess which name will be etched on the first place trophy for the 2009-10 season.

editor@thepacket.ca

[leafer]

All we need this weekend is the same effortif that's there the outcome will be the same

[CaribousFan]

All we need this weekend is the same effort if that's there the outcome will be the same

I totally agree with you, If The caribous can play like they did the weekend than we will win both games

[TheMob]

Well there is a lot on the line the weekend and without lewis and manson its going to be harder. We need our starts to shine and lately they just arn't doing it. Once they either change the lines back or they get use to each other then things will start to continue in the right path. Its going to be interesting to see what happens the weekend with the lines and with the chemistry

[catsfan4]

i dunno if they'll miss manson much But they'll miss lewis.. Philpott won't be there either i hear

[TheMob]

i dunno if they'll miss manson much But they'll miss lewis.. Philpott won't be there either i hear

A lot of people overlook mansons job. Manson may not stand out but when he is even on the bench people know that if they do something wrong Manson will take a number. Without him being there they can get away with more things JMO. Knowing someone is there to have your back is always huge for some of the cats players. Like look at hedges. He's small but when Manson is out there he feels 6"4 and bullet proof

[canonball]

i dunno if they'll miss manson much But they'll miss lewis.. Philpott won't be there either i hear

From what people have been saying about Philpot unless he starts to play as a team player he woun`t be much good .. From what they say he was a puck hog this past weekend

[canonball]

i dunno if they'll miss manson much But they'll miss lewis.. Philpott won't be there either i hear

A lot of people overlook mansons job. Manson may not stand out but when he is even on the bench people know that if they do something wrong Manson will take a number. Without him being there they can get away with more things JMO. Knowing someone is there to have your back is always huge for some of the cats players. Like look at hedges. He's small but when Manson is out there he feels 6"4 and bullet proof

I really don`t think that Hedges has to have Manson to improve his play ,, He is one fiesty player ,like to see him in a bous uniform ..

[geoguy]

i dunno if they'll miss manson much But they'll miss lewis.. Philpott won't be there either i hear

A lot of people overlook mansons job. Manson may not stand out but when he is even on the bench people know that if they do something wrong Manson will take a number. Without him being there they can get away with more things JMO. Knowing someone is there to have your back is always huge for some of the cats players. Like look at hedges. He's small but when Manson is out there he feels 6"4 and bullet proof

I really don`t think that Hedges has to have Manson to improve his play ,, He is one fiesty player ,like to see him in a bous uniform ..

the way the bous fans hate that guy I don't know if they all would agree, but opinions change when points are being racked up for your own squad.

[rusty]

If Grand Falls can get a split this weekend i will predict they will win first place.