With the Victoria Grizzlies season in a freefall 鈥� seven consecutive losses at the most inopportune time possible 鈥� GM and head coach Craig Didmon readily admits: 鈥淓xcuses don鈥檛 matter.鈥�
Not at this time of year in hockey.
Still, Didmon points out the last three sa国际传媒 Hockey League defeats for his club, although all 4-1 scorelines, involved late empty-net goals against.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been playing some good hockey [through the last seven games], but we need more consistency,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e have to keep working hard. I was happy with the effort Sunday afternoon [in a 4-1 loss to the Chilliwack Chiefs at The Q Centre].鈥�
The next chance to turn fortunes for Victoria comes tonight at the Island Savings Centre in Duncan against the resurgent Cowichan Valley Capitals (25-21-6), who are headed to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.
鈥淥bviously, our players, especially the older ones, know what鈥檚 at stake over the remaining [six] games,鈥� said Didmon.
鈥淲e play Wenatchee, Penticton and Langley [on the road] coming up this weekend, so it鈥檚 not going to get any easier. This is the time of year when you grind away and hope to stay healthy.鈥�
In Sunday鈥檚 loss to Chilliwack, P.J. Conlon scored the lone Victoria goal. Jesse Lansdell, committed to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish of the NCAA, led the Mainland Division front-running Chiefs with a goal and assist. Chilliwack goaltender Matteo Esposito was named the game鈥檚 first star with a 28-save performance. Both power plays shots blanks at 0-4 each.
Victoria (21-27-4) is tied with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, 7-2 home victors over the Merritt Centennials on Sunday, for the fourth-and-final playoff berth in the Island Division. Victoria has a game in hand on Alberni Valley.
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