It was the game that got away, but the Ice are hoping for a little revenge this time around, as they head back into Alberta for another important divisional contest with the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday.
The Ice were dogging the Tigers for a playoff spot, and needed a win to climb into eighth place when the two teams met three weeks ago, however, the Tabbies were able to hold on for a 3-2 win to stay in eighth place.
Fast forward another six games and the landscape changed dramatically.
The Ice won five of their following games and stepped up into eighth place, while the Tigers won six of their next eight contests, and now sit in sixth place.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes and the Broncos have had some fortuitous losses, which have allowed Kootenay to climb up the ladder.
It seems as if every game coming down the stretch is a must-win, but the team is playing desperation hockey with an eye on the post-season.
“Right now we’re trying to take it one game at a time, not trying to get two steps ahead of ourselves,” said Ice defenceman Jagger Dirk. “Obviously, if we can finish higher in the standings, that’d be nice, but right now it’s just a game at a time, a period at a time and a shift at a time.”
Tanner Muth is out of the lineup (day-to-day) with an upper body injury, while Jeff Hubic will also watch from the press box following a one-game suspension from the WHL for accumulation of instigator penalties—one of which he picked up last Sunday when he went in to fight Josh Derko, who had laid a check from behind on Jon Martin.