There will be no magic words from head coach Billy McGuigan before his Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals head out onto Edmundston’s Centre Jean Daigle ice to take on the Blizzard Wednesday night.
The puck drops in the deciding game of their Maritime Junior Hockey League’ Eastlink North Division final series at 7:30 p.m. The winner will move on to play South Division champion Yarmouth Mariners in the MHL’s championship series.
Sure, there will be a discussion aimed at rallying the troops before Game 7, but McGuigan stressed, “It’s not what happens in the dressing room before the game that wins those type of things; it’s what happens on the ice.”
McGuigan said the scenario hasn’t changed since the Caps’ 4-1 win at home Monday night, which tied the series at 3-3.
“We’re trying to avoid elimination and trying to win a hockey game,” he said.
“It’s important that we play our own game and that we focus on what we can focus on, and focus on the ‘U-S’, the us. Focus on our game and play to our strengths,” he emphasized.
“It’s the small details that you talk about all season long, that you take for granted, that come to play in the biggest games of the season,” he added.
Graduating defenseman Sebastien Cormier suggested the Caps will have to keep it simple and be willing to do the little things that win games.
“Just getting pucks out, limiting turnovers. Shutting down the middle of the ice,” he said. “They’re a fast team, so containing their speed and staying out of the box and being disciplined.”
The only difference from Game 6, Cormier said, is tonight it is an elimination game for the Blizzard, too.
“I’m expecting them to come out hard.”
Cormier said he’s having a fun year with a great group of guys and he wants the playing to continue beyond Wednesday’s series final.
“We weren’t supposed to be one of the greater teams at the start of the year, but we found a way there around the midway mark and now we’re kind of one of the dark horses in the playoffs and, as a group, we believe we have as good of a chance as anybody.”
McGuigan said his team needs to embrace the atmosphere that will be present during Game 7 in Edmundston.
“Hopefully they’re loud and hopefully it’s fun and hopefully things work out our way.”
He said the team made some adjustments in Game 6 and were more-stingy defensively.
“I think we’ve just got to continue that path and make their D play a little more defence and get pucks in behind them and go from there.”
