VICTORIA 4
ALBERNI VALLEY 2
Victoria Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon said it the night before — it looks like it’s going to come down to a battle for the fourth and final playoff spot with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in the B.C. Hockey League’s Island Division.
“It’s no secret we’re in a playoff battle now,” Didmon stressed ahead of a must-win scenario Saturday night between the two teams at The Q Centre.
It was the fourth clash of the 2015-16 campaign between the two and the Grizzlies finally got a win, using first-period goals from captain P.J. Conlon, Brett Stirling and Nick Guiney in a 4-2 victory.
Victoria moves three points up on the Bulldogs for fourth place, but Alberni Valley has three games in hand as the Grizzlies officially crossed into the second half of their schedule.
They will also be at home on Tuesday, to Nanaimo, for the last of five straight at home before heading out to Powell River on the weekend.
“It was important that we got a win on them and it was nice to do it on a Saturday night at home,” said Stirling, who also had an assist.
“It’s a big two points for us.
“The boys knew we needed a win tonight so we were going to work hard and do everything we could to just beat them. Play hard, play simple and get pucks in and get going.”
The newest Grizzly, Jared Virtanen, acquired Thursday from the Calgary Mustangs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, was introduced to the rivalry. Wearing No. 28, the cousin of Vancouver Canucks rookie Jake Virtanen, is a smooth skater who will obviously need time to adjust, not having had a practice.
Adam Donnelly got one goal back for Alberni early in the second before Brayden Gelsinger scored a fourth for Victoria in the third.
Nathan Dingmann added a short-handed goal with 22.8 seconds left for Alberni.
“It’s pretty close, we have some games in hand. We should have the upper hand, it’s just up to us to dictate what happens,” Josh Adkins, a Victoria native who is having a good year with the Bulldogs, said before the game.
“We’re .500 this month so it’s been all right, but you can’t be satisfied with that.
“Coach says were taking two steps forward and one back, so we have to keep it consistent and start putting together some wins here.”
With the victory, the Grizzlies improve to 11-16-0-3 while the Bulldogs slip to 10-15-1-1.
mannicchiarico@timescolonist.com
Twitter/tc_vicsports
