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Marauders Central
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Date Posted: 22:01:44 11/20/03 Thu
Montreal - The youthful exuberance of the Montreal Marauders is manifesting itself in odd patterns these days. The team that openly admits it is one year in on a three year plan and has zero Cup aspirations is actually playing fairly well. Fairly well meaning good in some spots and not so good in others.
On the good side, young guys are stepping up. Adam Deadmarsh and Mark Parrish are in a goal-scoring game of one-upmanship. If one player notches a goal, the other usually matches him later in the same game. Waiver Draft pickup Daniil Markov has arguably been the team's best defenseman, first on the team in hits, tops among blueliners in plus/minus, and second on the D in points, with 10.
Additionally, the powerplay has been red-hot, third in the league at 24%. The man-add success has directly affected the team total offense, which is second in the league at 3.86 goals per game.
On the downside, the oft-overexuberant defense has allowed a league-high 456 shots in just 14 games, last in the GWHL. The penalty kill is near the bottom of the league at 79%. The goalies have been shellacked into early-season psychiatry sessions.
But...it is entertaining hockey. In an era of defense-first bunker mentality system hockey, the Marauders have brought fun back to the rink. Their wide open style has brought the fans back to the Montreal Forum in droves, averaging twice the attendance of last season's games.
While currently in a playoff spot, the team expects their .500 record to cause a drift south of the playoff border at some point. But that doesn't change the fact that firewagon hockey is fun to watch. The Marauders vow to not change their system, and they hope the youthful exuberance and high-scoring style keeps the fans in their seats...or jumping out of them.
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