Victoria Grizzlies News
GRIZZLIES EDGE CAPITALS IN TIGHT CONTESTJanuary 24, 2010 Sharie Epp ©Times Colonist - DUNCAN — Never one to back down from a challenge, Cowichan Valley Capitals coach Dale Purinton hoped the Victoria Grizzlies would come into the Island Savings Centre playing full out. “We want Victoria to play as hard as they can,” Purinton said, before the two rivals faced off last night. “That forces us to get better.” Purinton wanted hard, and that’s what he got. The game wasn’t decided until Joel Lowry scored at 1:15 of overtime to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 victory. Defenceman Brad Pawlowski made a nice pass to Dylan Nowakowski, who beat his man in the corner, and got the puck out to Lowry. “Tonight was a battle for us. We didn’t play the way we wanted,” said Lowry. “We could have played better, but [goaltender Colin] Fernandes held us in there.” Looking for their eighth straight victory, the Grizzlies (27-14-2-5) were coming off a 4-1 win over Trial on Friday, while Cowichan Valley (17-29-0-3) was desperate to hang onto the seventh playoff spot in the B.C. Hockey League Coastal Conference. On Friday, the Capitals had scored a 2-1 victory over the Nanaimo Clippers in Nanaimo. “It was a big win for us, knowing our rivalry, and how important it was to go into that arena and get a win,” Purinton said about the Nanaimo game. He said he’s pushing his guys hard, and the effort is certainly there, even if the wins aren’t. “It’s obvious, we’re desperate. If one line takes one shift off, the next line has to pick it up.” Yesterday, it seemed impossible for pucks to find the net, with Alex Peck manning the net for the Caps, and backup Fernandes in the crease for the Grizzlies, who outshot the Caps 41-28. Fernandes was the game’s second star, behind Peck. It was the Victoria backup’s first start in nine games. “Neither team could really find a way to get one in,” Lowry said. “[Fernandes] gave us confidence.” The Grizzlies had five power plays to Cowichan’s three in the first two periods, but the man advantage wasn’t enough, either. Discipline was one thing Purinton pointed to as a possible difference-maker, and his team mostly stayed out of the box, but made up for it by being physical. “They rely on a grinding style of play. When they force that on us, we’re able to battle it out, but it’s definitely a battle,” said Lowry, who was more concerned about beating Alberni Valley on Tuesday in Port Alberni than having an eight-game winning streak. “It feels really good, but it’s not going to feel as good, if we don’t beat Alberni.” Back home next weekend, the Grizzlies play host to Nanaimo on Saturday and Prince George on Sunday at Bear Mountain. They begin February on the road at Westside, Quesnel, Prince George Spruce and Williams Lake. Bear tracks: The Grizzlies wind up the regular season schedule on Feb. 20, back in Duncan.
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