Petes try to catch Fish
Crucial matchup tonight with Mississauga in race for final playoff spot
The Peterborough Petes got some help from the Kitchener Rangers on Wednesday and now need to take matters into their own hands.
If it’s not a must-win it’s pretty close to it when the Petes host the Mississauga Steelheads at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at the Memorial Centre. The Petes trail the Steelheads, who lost 3-2 to Kitchener on Wednesday, by six points for the final OHL Eastern Conference playoff spot.
The Petes have 14 regular season games left including two against Mississauga, both at the PMC. The Steelheads have 15 games left. The Petes are 10 points behind seventhplace Ottawa 67’s and 11 back of the Oshawa Generals.
So it’s likely Mississauga is the only team they can catch.
“For sure this is the team in our sights,” said Petes interim head coach Andrew Verner. “The second one (against Mississauga) might not matter a whole lot if we can’t get a good result (Thursday) so it’s all-in for (Thursday).
“It’s right there for the kids to see. They’re the team right above us.”
The Petes also visit the Kingston Frontenacs Friday before hosting the Niagara IceDogs on Family Day Monday at 2 p.m.
The Petes need to get on a run if they want to make the playoffs and with only one win in their last 11 games it might seem unlikely. But Declan Chisholm says the players still believe in themselves.
“It’s hard to gain confidence as a team if you’re not winning but you look at past success and we did go on a 10-game winning streak last year with a lot of the guys who are here,” Chisholm said. “We can do it. We’re a good team. We’re skilled.”
Dylan Wells said they all know what’s on the line.
“It’s a big game,” Wells said. “We’re in a race with Mississauga and it we want to go to the playoffs it’s a very important game to come out and play our best. We’re preparing like it’s a big game. It’s going to be a playoff like atmosphere.”
Wells said the team is trying to shut out critics.
“You just don’t listen to it,” Wells said. “I don’t really look outside the locker room too much or listen to what anybody says. You learn that as a goalie it’s pretty important to listen to your coaches and everybody around you but outside of that you just try to listen to yourself and trust yourself.
“When you start relying on thoughts of other people or looking too much into what other people say that’s when you start doubting yourself. When you start doubting yourself that’s when you become less successful. As a team we have to believe in ourselves. I believe in each and every one of those guys that if we go out and do the right things we’ll be successful.”
NOTES: Cole Fraser has not yet skated after taking a blow to the head on Feb. 4 in Ottawa. A timeline for his return is unclear, said interim coach Andrew Verner .... Adam Timleck, who is recovering from a similar upper body injury, started practising on Tuesday in a non-contact jersey. Verner said Timleck will not play this weekend but is making progress .... Fans can support Community Care Peterborough through a second intermission chuck-a-puck for the chance to win a team-signed Petes jersey. Funds raised will be directed to Community Care’s Meals on Wheels program, transportation services and personal distress alarms .... Every fan at the game will receive a coupon to receive $2 off a sub, chip and drink combo purchase at Firehouse Subs.