In case you haven't heard, the National Conference is in a battle. Of the eight teams in the conference, only the Idaho Steelheads have clinched a playoff spot. Let's face it, nobody's catching the potatoheads, but only eight points separate the other seven teams. That means that every point is like gold for the Grizzlies right now if they want to make the playoffs. Since Stockton used to be a gold mining town, it seems like a good place to start.
The last time the Grizzlies played the Thunder it was at home in the E Center, and things got a little bit ugly. There was much yelling, cursing, and mass chaos at high volume. We would have had more video of it, but some clownshoe kept blocking our camera shot. We'll let it go this time. We have too much going on to be bothered about what happened two games ago. We're hoping that holds true for the Grizzlies, and that they stick with playing hockey as opposed to gooning it up on the ice. They need points more than penalty minutes right now.
Utah has won five out of seven games against Stockton this season, but Stockton is three points ahead of Utah in the standings. This means that if the Grizzlies want to pass the Thunder in the standings, they have to win all three games this weekend. They can tie Stockton if they lose one in overtime, but every other scenario puts Utah behind. (Trust us - we did a whole spreadsheet on it. Our bosses at our real job were thrilled.) That said, we think this is a very possible task for the Grizzlies. They just have to stay focused on their game, get into their warrior haze and really put some skunk on the Thunder.
Stockton has won five of their last ten games, one of those against Utah. They haven't really had much of a streak going - they've mostly been winning one and losing the next one - so we wouldn't say they're hot or cold. The Grizzlies have only won three of their last ten, and have lost the last two (against Idaho). We'd say they're fizzling out, but we're going to look at it the other way and say they're due for a couple of good wins. Three in a row would be nice. In regulation.
Utah will have some new faces this weekend in Brian Kilburg (D), who they picked up from Ontario, and Mikko Koskinen (G), both of which are expected to play tonight. Best of luck, New Guys!
This weekend could be a great series for the Grizzlies to launch a serious push to the playoffs. It's a battle out there.
9 comments:
YAY for Warrior Hazes! I hope the Grizzlies can get into one tonight. :)
Luck, boys!
I hope they can get into one all weekend. Unless it means they trash their hotel room...
Aw... I miss Pavli!
Wouldn't a trashed hotel room be worth it? It's not like it's our stuff . . . Just sayin'
We miss Pavli, too. He was scratched last time Stockton was here.
I just don't want any injuries from jumping out of a burning hotel, that's all.
They scratched Pavli? That's just wrong! They should at least let him come out and wave to the crowd when he's in Utah.
OMG your comments cracked me up! I got a great visual image on both . . . Yay warrior haze!
He has to wave to his public - too classic!
Maybe they can let him take a lap around the ice waving his old Grizzlies jersey or something. The fans could all throw flowers... Or those silly chuck-a-puck thingies.
maybe he could ride the zamboni... had to weigh in on this.
He could have a snowball fight with Grizzbee.
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