Tuesday, May 3, 2005 | By Philip Croucher, Halifax Daily News

Up close and personal. That's how the Halifax Mooseheads plan to treat Rimouski Oceanic forward Sidney Crosby.

"Get in his face and tell him more of the same will happen. We'll always be there," said Mooseheads forward Frederik Cabana. "And think defensively first. Don't be too (excited) offensively. If you have three guys stuck down low, they'll come back with a three-on-two."

Crosby, from Cole Harbour, is the most dangerous player in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and if not contained, has the capability to make the league final between Rimouski and Halifax a quick one.

The Oceanic have other offensive weapons, but no player can dominate a game or put up points like this 17-year-old forward, who has nine goals and 13 assists in nine post-season games.

The final between Halifax and Rimouski kicks off Thursday at Le Colisee in Rimouski. The game will be carried live on AM 920 CJCH (8:30 p.m.).

"It's going to be hard to go up to Rimouski, we think, and put one guy on him. I don't think they're going to let us do that," said Mooseheads coach Al MacAdam. "So like the other series, and during the year as well, we feel we have at least two lines that can play against the other teams top lines."

The last time the Mooseheads saw Rimouski was Jan. 15 at the Metro Centre, a game in which Crosby burned Halifax for two goals and four assists in the Oceanic's 8-4 win. Crosby had four goals and eight assists in the teams' four regular-season meetings, which were split 2-2.

"I (just) watched that game that we played here," said MacAdam, referring to the 8-4 setback. "It was our sixth game in 10 nights and we were getting used to different combinations, or I was. Our team played a general game against them and (Crosby) was hot early and continued to be that.

"But we feel the games in playoffs are much different than regular season - both ways, I suppose - and we will try and do what we've done the last two series, shut down their top line."

In that Jan. 15 game, a sold-out Metro Centre crowd gave Crosby a standing ovation after he recorded his sixth point on a goal in the third period. He also received a standing ovation after being named the first star.

Many thought that would be the last time Crosby would play at the Metro Centre, because he is expected to turn pro next season. But Halifax fans will get an encore with the final.

"For him it's a big deal. Playing in his home town against his hometown team when he was younger," said Cabana, a player the Mooseheads will no doubt look to in trying to keep Crosby in check.