They will attempt to dodge a fifth when the Coquitlam Express, the league鈥檚 second-worst team by record (3-9-1-1), visit The Q Centre tonight at 7 against the host Grizzlies who are 7-6-1-0 overall and 3-1-1-0 at home, although one win was a BCHL Showcase game in Chilliwack.
The message from GM and head coach Craig Didmon was clear after the most recent setback, a 3-2 overtime defeat at the hands of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Captain Lucas Clark echoed the same message after the loss.
Asked point blank what he wants to see tonight from his crew, Didmon stated: 鈥淚 want to see a better effort and they鈥檙e might be some different guys sitting in the stands, but I certainly want to see that better effort.鈥�
For the second straight game the Grizzlies failed to hang on to 2-1 leads and that isn鈥檛 sitting well with the players or Didmon.
鈥淚t鈥檚 coming down to we鈥檙e coming into games too confident, [despite] having lost that many games in a row,鈥� said captain Clark. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our culture and our hockey team has to change. Now that we鈥檝e lost this many, now it鈥檚 turned into a job. There鈥檚 no fun until we start winning games and that鈥檚 all I can say about that.鈥�
He agreed it鈥檚 up to him and the rest of the leadership group to get the team back on track, especially at home.
鈥淭hese games are a key and the overtime ones are the ones we need to win. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 going to bring fans and support, so we have to show a better effort. Once we get a lead, we need to keep it,鈥� added Clark, who had a goal in Wednesday鈥檚 loss.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a quick bounce-back, with only one day in between,鈥� he said of preparation for Coquitlam. 鈥淭he culture [needs to be] different, preparation wise. We have a lot of talent, young talent, but it鈥檚 about our leaders to get them in the right mindset to win hockey games right now.鈥�
As for failing to hang on to leads, Clark stated: 鈥淲e get goals and once we do, we lay back and I think the pedal has to stay down. That鈥檚 what happens, we get to the third period, one bobbled puck, now we鈥檙e tied and we end up losing the game and that鈥檚 not going to happen anymore.鈥�
Didmon also stressed the Grizzlies are in no position to take Coquitlam lightly.
鈥淭here is no free ride and we saw that on Sunday in Surrey [a 5-2 loss]. If we鈥檙e going to be overconfident for Friday, then look out, we鈥檙e in trouble. They鈥檙e all good hockey clubs,鈥� said Didmon.
And his last message following Wednesday鈥檚 loss was also a terse one for his club.
鈥淲e got a point, but it doesn鈥檛 feel like a point. It feels like a regulation loss. There are no excuses. We needed a win and we didn鈥檛 get it, so those guys better start looking in the mirror,鈥� he added.
IN THE DEN: The Grizzlies were without Justin Michaelian on Wednesday after he suffered a lower body injury in Sunday鈥檚 loss in Surrey. He has eight goals, one more than Jamie Rome and Ethan Nother, but 16-year-old Alex Newhook continues to lead the team in points (three goals, 13 assists), three up on Clark (4G, 9A).
