Many believe that it’s not how you start but how you finish.
It appears to hold true for the Bearcats most recent outings where they started with an ugly loss to Yarmouth, followed by a pair of wins over the South Shore Lumberjacks.
The Mariners scored nine goals against Truro in the Bearcats’ barn. None of them would ever make a highlight reel but that’s not the point.
The Bearcats gave the Mariners ten powerplay opportunities. The response was five goals. That’s a concern.
While Truro was clearly unhappy with the effort, the Mariners have a reason for concern as well. They allowed five even-strength goals.
It wasn’t a pretty start, but things did get better by the week’s end.
In Bridgewater, Friday, the Bearcats needed four third period goals to force the game to OT. They took advantage by getting the win.
That game saw Truro’s powerplay shine with an impressive five goals on five opportunities while showing none against. That’s efficiency.
Truro opened quickly in the return match in Truro against the Lumberjacks. The Bearcats entered the final period with a one-goal lead which held up for the win.
The wins kept the Bearcats in the fourth spot in the Division and lifted the team back to .500 hockey.
Tweaking lines is a never-ending practice, however, it appears the Bearcats have found a combination that might rank among the premier lines in the MHL. It’s great to watch.
This week, the team faces another full plate with three games in as many nights. This is the tenth week of the schedule and the fifth time the team has had a three-game slate.
Three were over consecutive nights while two over four nights. That’s a lot of hockey and clearly challenges the practice to game ratio.
Thursday, the Bearcats are in Pictou County to face the Crushers. Truro put a little space between them in the standings but want to extend it.
Yarmouth is back in town Friday; then South Shore returns for a Saturday game. All games have 7:00 pm starts.
Off ice the Bearcats are supporting the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign by manning the Kettles Tuesdays at the Truro Mall leading to Christmas.