The Revelstoke Grizzlies blanked the Sicamous Eagles in a Tuesday night game at the Revelstoke Forum, drawing to within two points of the last playoff spot.
The Grizzlies looked solid and confident, outshooting the Eagles 41-28, and relied physical checking after they pulled ahead 2-0 in the second on goals by Louie Federico and Brady Mende.
An insurance goal by Carter Huber in the third sealed the game, but the Eagles never challenged seriously past the first period.
The win brought the Grizzlies season record to .500 with 20 wins and 20 losses. With 47 points, they’re one win behind the 100 Mile House Wranglers at 49. Both teams have five games remaining, although the Grizzlies enjoy an easier 4-1 home schedule, while the Wranglers play the majority on the road.
Coach Ryan Parent was pleased with the four-game win streak, and noted they lost a few close ones just before that.
“We’re playing the right way,” Parent said, crediting a fast, skilled game with control in the neutral game as things the Grizzlies are executing well.
Parent said the plan is to “keep the train rolling” into a big weekend.
The Grizzlies face the Kamloops Storm at the Revelstoke Forum on Friday, February 6. If the Grizzlies make the playoffs, the Storm are very likely their first round matchup. The Storm sit in fourth place overall and are the only team in the Doug Birks Division who have already clinched a postseason berth. Late season games on Friday nights are big in Revelstoke and this will be no exception. The beer garden maxed out last Friday, so get there early.
The Grizzlies play at home again on Saturday, February 7 against the basement-dwelling North Okanagan Knights. The NOK are batting 0.173 this season and are seeking to snap a six-game losing skid and pick up their seventh win of the campaign. The Grizzlies will need to pick up two points on Saturday.
One win will put the Grizzlies abreast of the 100 Mile House Wranglers, but KIJHL rules look to overall wins as the tiebreaker, and the Wranglers have 22 wins versus the Grizzlies 20. There’s more math after that, but the bottom line is the Grizzlies need to keep winning, and their past half-dozen games prove they’ve gelled as a competitive team heading into the home stretch.
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