The Aurora Tigers are fast becoming an unpredictable team. Just when you think that they are turning things around, they come back with a sub par performance against a team that they beat easily earlier in the season 7-2.

One doesn't know these days what Aurora team will show up, the "TIGERS" or the "PUSSYCATS". No question that it was the "TIGERS" that showed up in Kingston Thursday and but for a couple of bad penalties late in the 3rd and a unbelievable bad luck play in the overtime, the Tigers would have handed the Voyageurs their 2nd loss. However, last night in Aurora it was the "PUSSYCATS" that showed up losing to the Brampton Capitals by a score of 4-1. The win moved the Caps into a 9th place tie with the Tigers, however the Cats have 3 games in hand. With the loss the Tabbies go to a 8-10 record, a record that is most uncharacteristic of a Tiger team.

When a team is experiencing difficulties, problems tend to compound. The Tigers had goal post problems last night hitting not 1, not 2, not 3 but 4 posts during the game, but that's what happens when things aren't going your way.

Anyway, it was George Lovatsis that scored the lone Tiger goal, his 11th of the season from Michael Sardella and Lucas VanNatter. Once again the Tiger powerplay was sterile going 0/4 dropping to a lowly 13% putting them 2nd from the bottom in the league just ahead of Milton who the Tigers play Sunday afternoon in Milton, a must win game for the Cats, a loss against Milton may be devastating for Aurora. Hopefully Jeff Vanderlugt will be back from Team Canada East after being eliminated by the West last night and hopefully the "TIGERS" will show and not the "PUSSYCATS", I'm betting it will be the "TIGERS" with a big win against the Ice Hawks.

GO TIGERS GO

As a fan, this was a frustrating game to watch.

When the Tigers are playing at their best, they have speed, move the puck well, use the body, and the result shows on the scoreboard. When they aren't, as in last night's play, they seem very predictable, lack imagination, passes weren't hitting their mark, and physically were non-existent. A couple of defensive breakdowns created the first two scoring chances for the Capitals, a clear indication this team can go nowhere other than where they are without an upgrade in defensive.

Their performance on the PP is a good example of their lack of creativity--they fall into the same formation, make the same passes, and shoot from the same locations. All the defensive team needs to do is protect the shooting lanes from the points, box up the slot, and the Tigers won't be able to get it done. I've harped before about their perimeter play on the PP, but it frankly is not working. When they take the initiative to drive the net on the break rather than peeling to the outside to set up their ineffective PP formation they've actually had a few great scoring chances.

Perhaps they were just tired from the game the night before, but at this age, I'm not certain that should even be an excuse.

For the Tiger faithful, we can hope that the return of Vanderlugt will bring some balance to the line-up.