By DAVE CARTER of The Gazette
As Les Quebecois’ John Ferguson says: “The playoffs are a completely different thing.”
Still. Les Quebecois have won only six road games this year — none of them against the Rochester Griffins, their opponents tomorrow night in Rochester for the first game in their best-of-seven, semi-final National Lacrosse League playoff.
In eight of the previous meetings this year tile Griffins have won five and lost three.
“We’ve lost some close ones on the road this year. A few bad ones but at least five by one goal margins,” said Fergy. “But the playoffs …”
Perhaps Fergy is right — and he’s made some changes to begin the playoffs.
“I’ll double-shift (John) Davis on the first and third lines,” he says, “and Ron Liscombe, who has been out for a while, really wants to play, so we’ll put a brace on his knee. Ronnie’s nice to have around when things get rough.
Rochester’s not a physical team outside of (Rick) Dudley and (Kevin) Parsons, but he’ll help.” Les Quebecois will also have Red Crawford, a veteran centreman who played this season with Toronto Shooting Stars, and Ferguson will use him on important faceoffs.
FINISHED STRONG
Although Les Quebecois lost their first three encounters to the Griffins, in the second half of the season they seemed much stronger.
Of the last five games, Les Quebecois won three and lost two but both were close.
The last time the Griffins were in town, Ernie Mitchell held them scoreless from the 11:32 mark of the second period and Montreal dominated all fights in a 14-9 win.
Mitchell’s goals against average against Rochester is 15.1, disappointing to Ernie but fine performances in four of the six games he started.
At the other end, Rochester goalie Merv Marshall has started in seven, winning four and has compiled a 12.6 goals-against mark.
Davis has had notable success against Marshall. Scoring 12 goals and assisting on 27 others for 39 points.
The Griffins will probably key on Davis as Les Quebecois will key on Dudley. Dudley led Rochester against Montreal with 19 goals and 8 assists for 27 points.
In previous games. Dave Litzenberger has keyed on the scrappy Dudley and checked him well.
In one game, Rick scored four goals, although three of them came late in the third period, and didn’t hurt. But he remains a major threat — as much as Davis.
POWER PLAY
Les Quebecois will use the same basic power-play except for a replacement for the injured Gord Floyd, out for the remainder of the season with a broken ankle.
One major problem is to stop Rochester’s fast break, a headache to Les Quebecois all year. Parsons, the Griffins’ first-round choice, and Dave Wilfong, have been effective in using this against Montreal this year.
Wilfong, in eight games, has scored 20 goals and assisted on five others, while Parsons has tallied 10 and assisted on 12 in six games.
Davis, Jim Lynch and Dale MacKenzie all have scored 12 times for Les Quebecois against Rochester while Bill Sheehan has 11 goals.
