KENSINGTON, P.E.I. — It was a weekend of mixed results for the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild.
After missing an opportunity to move into a first-place tie with a 3-0 loss to the host Moncton Flyers on Friday night, a short-staffed Wild lineup trimmed the last-place Northern Moose 9-1 on Saturday night.
“It was really important for us to get back on track,” said Wild rookie goaltender Josh Smith, who turned aside 22 of 23 shots against Northern. “Whenever you go to Moncton it’s always tough games, and you don’t always win them all.”
The story of Friday’s game was an ineffective power play as the Wild failed to score on 12 man advantages.
“We had a couple of good looks, but at the end of the day we have to get a little more traffic and more presence in front of the net,” said Wild assistant coach Duane Richards. “Other than that, a couple of bounces here and there and we will get back on track.
“Every team’s power play hits a little bit of rut every season, but we will get back on track.”
The league-leading Flyers, who improved to 25-3-1 (won-lost-overtime losses) with a 5-3 win over the Fredericton Caps (7-17-4) on Saturday night, took a four-point lead over the second-place Wild (23-6-1) into Sunday afternoon’s game in Charlottetown against the Bulk Carriers Pride (15-12-1).
“With that loss in Moncton we are really going to need some help to catch them for first,” acknowledged Richards.
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Suspensions
The Wild went into Saturday’s game with four regulars – Jack Campbell, Landon Parsons, Isaac Wilson and Zac Arsenault – sitting out suspensions. Head coach Kyle Dunn began a four-game suspension and equipment manager Dave (Gonzo) Bernard served the first of a five-game ban.
“Against Northern, the boys responded and we were down in numbers,” said Richards, who is acting head coach in Dunn’s absence. “The lines were a bit mixed up, we got the W and now we will move on to next week.”
Five-point night
At Credit Union Centre in Kensington, Dixon MacLeod scored once and assisted on four others for a game-high five points to lead the Wild. Keiran Gallant (2-1), Colby MacArthur (2), Duncan Picketts (1-1), Simon Hughes (1-1), Matt McQuaid and Bennett MacArthur also dented the twine. Ethan Beaulieu (2), Landon Clow (2), Will Proud, Kalib Snow, Ryan Richards and Zach Biggar added assists.
Gavin Caissie answered for the Bathurst, N.B.-based Moose (1-25-2).
The Wild, who registered 42 shots on Northern’s goal, took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission, and led 4-1 after 40 minutes.
Smith delivered a clutch shoulder save just before the halfway mark of the opening period on a breakaway to preserve a 3-0 lead, and maintain momentum for the Wild.
“He cut in and tried to go short side,” said Smith in explaining the stop. “You have to keep focused because you never know what’s going to happen.”
The 15-year-old Smith, who is from Cornwall, improved to 13-2-0 while lowering his goals-against average to 2.52.
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