After an incredible month of January, the Victoria Grizzlies might want to forget about February.
Failing to lose in regulation time in all 10 games the first month of 2013, the Grizzlies are currently on a two-game losing streak, have lost three of four, dropped four of six and lost five of their last eight in February.
It was a sluggish month that leads into a fresh, rivalry weekend against Nanaimo to kick off March, beginning tonight at 7 at Frank Crane Arena before returning to Bear Mountain Arena at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday in the home-and-home series.
鈥淚t鈥檚 that time of year where other teams are playing hard and we鈥檝e had a lot of wins where maybe we didn鈥檛 deserve them and we got lucky,鈥� said Grizzlies associate coach and assistant general manager Craig Didmon.
鈥淲e thought our effort last Saturday [5-4 overtime loss in Cowichan] was a strong one and going back we thought our game in Vernon [3-2 defeat] was a strong one that we didn鈥檛 win either. Maybe that鈥檚 just the way it鈥檚 bouncing right now.
鈥淏ut we know we have to work hard, execute the way we should and I know they鈥檙e up for this weekend. We want to have a good weekend.鈥�
And with just four games remaining in the regular season, Victoria wants to finish it off right.
Amazingly, the Grizzlies continue to hold down a share of the overall sa国际传媒 Hockey League lead, tied with the Surrey Eagles with 73 points and one up on the Penticton Vees.
鈥淥ften the top teams struggle at this time because their minds are maybe focusing on what needs to be done ahead of time while others, who are running for that playoff spot, are playing their best hockey right now,鈥� said Didmon.
鈥淚t shows you that in our league, from top to bottom, any team can win on any given night.鈥�
The Grizzlies just haven鈥檛 been able to put it all together in successive nights since Feb. 1. They would love nothing more than to do it against division rival Nanaimo.
鈥淭hese are two teams that run on emotion, two teams that like to play each other and like to beat each other,鈥� said Didmon. 鈥淭hey are going to be six hard-fought periods.鈥�
Victoria closes out the regular campaign with a pair of home games against West Kelowna and Alberni Valley next weekend.
What鈥檚 important is snapping out of the recent doldrums.
鈥淎bsolutely, we want to get it done, starting [tonight] on the road and bringing it back home,鈥� said Didmon.
