Victoria, BC ~ The Victoria Grizzlies prepare for a showdown for second place with the Cowichan Valley Capitals tonight from the Cowichan Community Arena in Duncan at 7:00 PM.
Heading into tonight the Capitals hold a one point lead on the Grizzlies for second place with a 19-10-3 record (41 points). The Grizzlies are right there nipping at their heels with an 18-9-4 record (40 points) however the Grizzlies have played one less game.
This is the third meeting of the season between these two bitter rivals with no love lost in the “Battle of the Malahat”. The Grizzlies won 4-0 on September 28th before the Capitals returned the favor with a 4-0 win on home ice on November 30th. Most recently the Grizzlies fell 4-3 in overtime in early December to the Caps.
This has been a three game set filled with hatred so expect nothing less this evening. So far the two teams have combined for 16 misconducts including a 13 misconduct game on the 30th of November at the Cowichan Community Arena.
The Grizzlies are coming into tonight on the heels of a three game win streak with victories over; Langley, Coquitlam and Alberni Valley. Over that span of three games they have scored 14 goals making for a pretty impressive offensive barrage as of late. Over the past five games the Grizzlies are scoring at an impressive five goals per game rate.
Oscar Pantzare, Chase Pirtle and Julian Cull all have at least six game point streaks going for Victoria with Chase Pirtle holding the second longest current point streak in the BCHL at seven games. He has a goal and eight assists over that span. Landon Mackie has five goals in his last five games and has scored a goal in all four of the last Grizzlies road games.
The Grizzlies were in a 1/17 slump on the power play before last weekend however they rolled along for a 2/7 weekend with wins over Coquitlam and Alberni on Friday and Saturday last weekend. They will look to continue those good numbers against a Cowichan team who has been in the penalty box the fifth most times in the BCHL.
Updates:
Sam Ward (who was acquired from the Vernon Vipers on Friday last weekend) was able to get into the game in Port Alberni on Saturday night and endeared himself to his new teammates with three assists for a perfect debut.
Alex Hebblethwaite was released from hospital on Monday afternoon after a scary fall into the end wall on Saturday night in Alberni Valley. The 19 year old Burlington, Ontario native was thankfully able to avoid any serious injury however is expected to be out of the lineup for the next 4-6 weeks.
You can listen live to the Grizzlies broadcast with Tom Wilke by clicking here.
