The frustration showed in each and every one of their faces following Saturday鈥檚 3-0 loss at home.
The story for the Victoria Grizzlies entering this opening best-of-seven series was pressure being squarely on them as they faced a Nanaimo Clippers team that was 30 points in arrears in the regular-season standings.
There was also the fact that the Grizzlies had won seven of eight previous matchups in 2016-17.
That all went out the window once the post-season started and, so far, the Grizzlies haven鈥檛 handled the pressure very well as their lack of sa国际传媒 Hockey League playoff experience 鈥� just three players have been there before 鈥� has shown.
鈥淲e鈥檙e getting frustrated and that鈥檚 showing. We just have to realize this is playoff hockey and the emotions are high 鈥� it鈥檚 time to check the ego at the door and get back to work,鈥� said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon, following Saturday鈥檚 setback.
That defeat tied the series at 1-1 with Game 3 tonight in Nanaimo.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just the higher emotional level that鈥檚 out there,鈥� Didmon added of his team鈥檚 frustration with its inability to score. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e battling. Nanaimo is a tough team to play against. They鈥檙e really working hard to shut down our offensive guys and so far they鈥檝e had their success.
鈥淚t was a good thing that we had a couple of days off. We just have to clear our heads and get back to work [in practice on Monday] and go in there Tuesday and win in a tough place.鈥�
The power play has struggled mightily so far, going 0-for-11 in the first two games. Nanaimo scored twice with the man advantage in Game 2.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of those things. They can win or lose a series for you so we have to figure that out pretty quick,鈥� Didmon added of special teams. 鈥淔or them to play with us they have to take more penalties, they have to take calls as we go to the net and we have to take advantage of that.鈥�
And that falls on the Grizzlies鈥� top players, who have faltered so far.
鈥淲hen you get one goal in six periods, your best players haven鈥檛 been your best players. At the same time, they鈥檙e working hard, they鈥檙e putting the effort out and hopefully they get some luck,鈥� said Didmon, who suggested his team may have taken the Clippers too lightly.
鈥淚 think they felt as a group in the room, that Game 1 was a monkey off their backs, and then they were going to go out and get up two games. In the playoffs, it鈥檚 tough to sweep a team and now we鈥檙e tied at one,鈥� said Didmon. 鈥淲e worked hard for home-ice advantage and we just gave it up so we have to go back to work and get it back.鈥�
The good news is the Grizzlies have not lost in Nanaimo this season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a tough place to play. They鈥檒l have a big crowd and we鈥檝e opened the door for them. Our backs are against the wall now, too,鈥� said Didmon.
As for the Clippers, they are right where they want to be, having lost the first one by a 1-0 score, but swiping Game 2.
鈥淛ust because we鈥檙e changing rinks doesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 going to get any simpler for us. We have to continue to battle. I like our team鈥檚 attitude right now. We鈥檙e focused and playing as hard as we can,鈥� said Clippers GM and head coach Mike Vandekamp.
鈥淚t鈥檚 only home-ice advantage if you take advantage of it. That鈥檚 the goal next, to take this momentum,鈥� he added. 鈥淥bviously, when you have it, you probably didn鈥檛 want two days off in between, but that鈥檚 the way it is. We鈥檒l keep our boys sharp and be ready for them on Tuesday.鈥�
The series has been a feisty affair with the benches even chirping each other early on.
鈥淪o far we鈥檝e stuck to our plan. We鈥檇 like to stay out of the box a little bit more,鈥� said Vandekamp. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 take as many penalties as we have in two games or their power play is going to eventually click.鈥�
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