The Waywayseecappo Wolverines will look to get back into the win column on Thursday night when they host the OCN Blizzard in the first of two games on back to back nights.
With 13 games left on the Wolverines schedule, this weeks back to back becomes extremely important as the club remains six points back of the Winkler Flyers for the eighth and final playoff spot, with two games in hand on the Flyers.
The Run Down
Waywayseecappo will host the OCN Blizzard for the first time since Halloween when it was the Blizzard who walked away with a 3-2 victory in the shootout after seven rounds.
During back to back games in December, the Wolverines dropped a pair of disappointing losses on the road to the Blizzard. The Wolverines would make it a 2-1 game late in the third and would give up and an empty netter to fall 3-1.
In the rematch, Waywayseecappo led 2-1 with 1:38 left in the game and the collapse would begin. Malik Ali would tie the game at 2-2 seconds later before Tanner Brewster would put the dagger into the Wolverines and score the go-ahead goal with six seconds remaining to steal a 3-2 victory.
Down the Stretch
It was the Jeremy Link show once again on Saturday night in Winnipeg as the Wolverines fell 3-0 to the Blues which halted the clubs bid to string their fourth straight win together. Despite the loss to Winnipeg, the Wolverines did put an impressive three-game win streak together which saw the club pick up wins over Neepawa, Steinbach and Selkirk. After a rocky start to the new year, the Wolverines have seemed to right the ship as of late going 4-4-0-0 in their last eight.
The OCN Blizzard have gone 2-8-0-0 down the stretch and have surrendered 51 goals during those ten games while scoring 22 goals for. Coming off back to back losses to the Virden Oil Capitals on home ice.
Keys to the Game
The Wolverines have been playing the right way over the last five games. Getting to the tough areas, putting pucks on net and working hard while staying out of the box has all been part of the teams’ success. That rounded team game will be the recipe if the club will look to pick up a win on Thursday night.
Isaac LaBelle’s previous six games have been some of his best work of the season and he’ll need to continue his dominance on Thursday night with another two crucial points on the line.
News and Notes
Jackson Tonnies is expected to miss Thursday nights game with a lower-body injury while Preston Seymour could be a game-time decision while he continues to battle the flu.
The Winkler Flyers are idle on Thursday night but will be back in action on Friday in Dauphin as the club continue to sit six points ahead of the Wolverines.
Game Updates
You can watch tonights game on hockeytv.com or follow along on social media…
mjhl_Wolverines – Twitter
Wayway Wolverines – Facebook
Instagram – wolverines_mjhl