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It鈥檚 come down to this: One final day to determine who moves on into the sa国际传媒 Hockey League post-season and who goes home to ponder the regular season that was.
With Alberni Valley鈥檚 convincing 6-2 victory over the Powell River Kings on Saturday night, the Victoria Grizzlies will need a win in Chilliwack against the Chiefs today at 4 p.m.
Even that might not help as the Kings face the Bulldogs again this afternoon at 2.
A win there would clinch it for Alberni, which is now two points up on the Grizzlies, but Victoria holds the tiebreaker with overall victories.
A Bulldogs loss and a Grizzlies win would get Victoria in.
鈥淚t鈥檒l still be up for grabs. We have to win,鈥� Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon said of today鈥檚 game. 鈥淚t might not be in our hands and that鈥檚 the disappointing part.鈥�
A 6-2 Grizzlies鈥� loss to the Kings on Friday set up the wild finish.
鈥淲e look at the things that did go right and look at the things that need to be improved on,鈥� said Didmon, who will start Matthew Galajda in goal today.
Goaltending decisions ate away at the coach after Friday鈥檚 untimely setback.
After winning eight of 10 games, Galajda went on to lose seven of his next eight, which would leave any coaching staff second guessing and playing hunches. Prior to Friday鈥檚 loss, backup Mitchell Benson had won three of his last four appearances, including the 4-0 shutout win in Langley that gave the Grizzlies the chance.
鈥淲e might have got in their heads a bit,鈥� Didmon said of the goaltending scenario. 鈥淲e really thought both guys were worthy of the duty. Unfortunately, it didn鈥檛 work out. Galajda will get the start.
鈥淗e鈥檚 been our starter and he鈥檒l get the opportunity. I鈥檓 blaming myself because I think I got in their heads a little bit.鈥�
That shutout victory last Sunday in Langley did factor in, but there鈥檚 no looking back now though.
鈥淲e just hope that the hockey gods are with us and they [the Kings] can sneak out a win against Alberni.
鈥淭hey鈥檒l probably play some of their affiliated players, but we just have to win Sunday and see what happens,鈥� said Grizzlies defenceman Kevin Massy, who could be playing his final junior game today should Alberni win.
鈥淚t was a tough one to swallow [Friday], the most important game of the season and we beat ourselves.
鈥淲e just have to hope and pray that Powell River can beat Alberni and we have to get it done against Chilliwack.鈥�
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