Mario Annicchiarico / Times Colonist
Photo Credit: Kyle Robinson Photography
SEPTEMBER 29, 2016 10:08 PM
Into one of the trickier portions of their schedule, the Victoria Grizzlies will try and pull a couple of rabbits out of their hats tonight and Saturday.
The 5-1-1-1 Grizzlies, who lead the B.C. Hockey League in points, take on the visiting 2-4-0-0 Coquitlam Express tonight at 7 at The Q Centre before getting a 5 a.m. wake-up call to venture to Powell River to face the Kings on Saturday.
They add up to the team’s fourth and fifth games in eight nights, counting back to the BCHL Showcase last weekend and Wednesday’s 6-3 win in Port Alberni.
“We feel this is the toughest part of our schedule and we’re working through it,” said Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon. “We’ve sort of broken things into five game segments, so we have four of six points in this one.
“It’s one game at a time,” said Didmon, whose team snapped a three-game winless skid on Wednesday that included an overtime loss and a tie. “I think we have a good hockey team here. We have an opportunity to win every night. We want to continue to just play strong hockey and it was nice to get back in the win column again.”
If there is one concern it’s the fact that the Grizzlies have taken a lot of penalties of late. Victoria gave Alberni 11 power-play chances on Wednesday and the Bulldogs cashed in on two. Most of the third period was played short-handed.
In the 3-3 tie vs. Langley, the Rivermen had seven man-advantage opportunities, but were kept scoreless by the Grizzlies.
Victoria is the fourth highest in the league in penalty minutes, but the team’s penalty kill is No. 1 in the BCHL at an incredible 92.9 per cent. The power play sits eighth in the league at a 21.6 per cent efficiency.
Mitchel Benson is expected to make the start in goal tonight as Didmon has his goaltenders mostly on game-per-game scenario, alternating between the two.
The Express, who won the BCHL title in 2014, got stuck at the tracks to begin the season, scoring 17 times in six games, while allowing 27.
“Coquitlam has a lot of offence,” warned Didmon. “It’s a well-coached team and they have a lot of offence. They haven’t found their way yet and we hope to not let them find their way.”
IN THE DEN: The Grizzlies will hold their first annual gala dinner and auction on Oct. 6 at the Bear Mountain Resort. Special guests are former Philadelphia Flyers star Reggie Leach, former Vancouver Canucks player and current BCHL president John Grisdale, former Victoria Salsa and NHLer Matt Pettinger, who played for Washington, Tampa Bay and Vancouver, and former Winnipeg Jets player Lyle Moffat. Numerous prizes will be up for auction. Tickets for the dinner are $125 per person, $450 for half a table or $900 for a full table and can be purchased through the team’s office.
