7 IN A ROW

The 5-2 win last night moves the Pontiacs winning streak to seven games and they are now the hottest team in the League. Sherwood Park comes to town tomorrow night with nine wins in their last 10 games but they have only won four in a row. With only four regulation losses all season the Crusaders are the top team in the league.

Usually only once or twice a season does a matchup like this occur. Last year it was four games into the season when an undefeated Pontiacs team took on the undefeated Camrose Kodiaks in one of the best games of the year. The Kodiaks won it in overtime when Boston Bruins first round pick Joe Colborne score an unassisted marker.

The Crusaders and Pontiacs will play other games this year but this is the one that I feel will have the most build up. It's Sherwood Park's first visit to the RJ Lalonde since they lost game 5 in the first round of the playoffs last year and were eliminated. The Pontiacs want revenge for a loss in the Park earlier this year when the Cru scored two shorthanded goals on the same powerplay to win by a pair. It's the best possible test for the validity of the Pontiacs' winning streak. How good is this team really now that the new additions are in the lineup? It marks the return of Jamie Sadlowski to the RJ Lalonde arena since he became World Champion Long Drive king which will just at to the atmosphere. This is as close to a playoff game in November that you are going to find.

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Kirk Belyk is now third in the league in scoring and is climbing fast.

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Craig Cuthbert will be out 4-6 weeks with the knee injury. That has to be considered good news considering how bad it could have been. That could mean a post Christmas return but how's this for a trade deadline pickup? The Pontiacs add the skill and leadership of Craig Cuthbert to their lineup and give up nothing in return. Get well soon Craig.

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The 2007/08 version of the Pontiacs set a franchise record for fewest goals allowed with 166 against. At this point last season they had allowed 62 goals. This years team is 8 off the pace having let in 70. As this team gets more practice time it will be interesting to see how close they can come to the 166 record.

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I think if you asked Shawn Bates he would tell you he would like to have more goals this year, especially considering the chances he has generated. In my mind though, whether he finishes on the chances or not, he's single handedly worth more than the price of admission to watch what he can do with the puck.

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I'll say it right here. I think the 'flying V', if led by Ashton Hewson, might just work.

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With all the hype around tomorrow's game don't forget the Calgary Royals are in town on Sunday for a 2:30 puck drop. There will be a skate with the Pontiacs session for the kids after the game so b sure to bring your skates to the game.