A split of four games last week has the Olds Grizzlys in the position of having to garner a few points out of their final three games this week.
The most important of the three games ñ all on the road ñ is tonight in Calgary against the fifth place Mustangs as the Grizzlys look to hang on to fourth place in the Alberta Junior Hockey League's south division standings.
Currently the Grizzlys hold a four-point lead on the Mustangs and an eight-point lead on the Drumheller Dragons with both teams holding a game in hand on the black and gold.
Following tonights showdown at the Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary, the Grizzlys head north for a pair of weekend games in Fort McMurray and Lloydminster to wrap up their season's schedule. After tonight's affair, the Mustangs face Canmore and Drumheller on the road followed by a makeup game next Tuesday against the St. Albert Steel.
The playoffs for the south division start on Feb. 25 with the first round, best-of-five series between teams two through seven in both divisions. Only the eighth place teams in each division miss the playoffs and the first place team receives a first-round bye.
In the south, the Okotoks Oilers have clinched first while Spruce Grove has run away with the north division title, having lost only six games all season.
Who the Grizzlys play in the first round and where they open the playoffs may not be determined until that final makeup game for the Mustangs, although the locals hold destiny in their own hands if they win out.
After winning two of their first three games last week, the black and gold dropped a crucial home-ice game with the Canmore Eagles on Saturday night, losing 4-3 to extend their home-ice winless streak against the Bow Valley crew to nine straight games including playoffs. It was the final home game of the season for the Grizzlys who finished 12-12-0-6 at the Sports Complex this season.
It was disappointing for the locals after having come from behind the night before to beat Drumheller 7-5. The Grizzlys started the week beating Canmore on the road 4-3 followed by a 5-4 loss to Camrose on Thursday night.
