Just 10 days into November, the Victoria Grizzlies are heading into a pivotal weekend, trying to stay ahead of one opponent in the sa国际传媒 Hockey League standings while also trying to catch another.
It should make for some desperate hockey for the club that is on a four-game losing streak, all at home. Two of the losses did come in overtime where the locals earned a valuable point, but the other two were shutouts at The Q Centre.
Victoria 鈥� 10-8-3-0 for 23 points, good for second place in the Island Division 鈥� heads to Port Alberni tonight, trying to remain up on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (7-9-1-3 for 18 points), who have a game in hand.
The Grizzlies then return home for a Saturday game at 7 p.m. against the division-leading Powell River Kings (12-4-1-1 and 26 points), who have three games in hand on Victoria.
鈥淥bviously, it鈥檚 been a tough couple of weeks. We haven鈥檛 been able to win at home here in the last four so we鈥檙e looking to turn things around,鈥� said Grizzlies forward T.J. Friedmann. 鈥淚 think a big win over Alberni and a huge one against Powell would help that, especially since we鈥檙e seeing Powell River three in a row.鈥�
There is that factor as the Grizzlies will play twice at Hap Parker Arena next weekend.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a 12-point swing, so we need all 12 of those,鈥� added Friedmann, who has five goals and nine assists in 21 games.
The good news is the Grizzlies have already won twice at Alberni Valley, while losing once to the Bulldogs at home, but in overtime. Victoria split the opening weekend in Powell River, losing 8-2 in the opener before bouncing back for a 2-1 overtime win in the second.
鈥淲e鈥檙e finding luck up there,鈥� Friedmann said of Port Alberni. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always different, winning on the road instead of winning at home. You see what different teams will bring. Obviously, we go in there knowing they鈥檙e going to be a good home team and then we come back here knowing we鈥檙e going to try to be a good home team.鈥�
Asked to put his finger on the problem the Grizzlies have faced these last few weeks, Friedmann pinned it on consistency.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been struggling at times offensively and defensively. Obviously, we had three goals against Trail, which was good, but coming in against Merritt, we ended up getting shut out 6-0 on a Friday night,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e just need to be more consistent.
鈥淲e鈥檒l find a way through it. We鈥檝e had a stint where it鈥檚 been hard to find wins, but we鈥檒l fight through it,鈥� he stressed.
THIS 鈥橬鈥� THAT: The Bulldogs recently transferred the playing rights to defenceman Graham Rutledge to the Truro Bearcats of the MHL for future considerations. . . . Powell River acquired the rights to forwards Derek Osik and Neal Samanski from the Kemptville 73鈥檚 of the CCHL in exchange for future considerations.
