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Crunch time for Merchants

It’s do or die for the St. Albert Merchants if they want to finish ahead of the West Edmonton Wild for the last playoff spot in the west division of the Capital Junior B Hockey League.

It’s do or die for the St. Albert Merchants if they want to finish ahead of the West Edmonton Wild for the last playoff spot in the west division of the Capital Junior B Hockey League.

The Merchants (10-23-0 2) were clinging to a one-point lead over the last-place Wild (8-22-0-5) going into Friday’s home game against the North Edmonton Red Wings (23-9-0-2). The score was unavailable at press time. The difference in points was an overtime win by the Merchants over the Wild earlier this month.

“We don't want to be in this position but we are, so we have to focus on one game at a time and take care of it. We're not worrying about what the Wild are doing but play our game and stick to our strategy. If it's in the cards for us to make the playoffs, then it is,” said head coach Terry Moser.

The season ends next weekend against the Spruce Grove Regals (16-17-0- 2) Friday at 8 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena and Sunday against the rival Morinville Jets (19-14-0-1) at 2 p.m. at the Ray McDonald Sports Centre.

“There are definitely some good talents on their teams so it will bring out the best in our guys,” Moser said. “The boys like playing against the top teams. It motivates them and pushes them harder and forces them to make smarter plays and not get lazy but to stick to our game plan. I always see better performances.

All three games against the Jets so far this season have been spirited contests. St. Albert suffered three-goal defeats in the first two games but lost by one earlier this month.

With the top two teams in the west and east division getting a bye through the first round, the Merchants would face off against the Jets in the first round of the playoffs if the post-season started Friday

The Wild don’t have an easy schedule either with their last three games against the Jets, Regals and Beverly Warriors (26-8-0-1), the best team in the west. The Wild have only two wins against those three clubs on the season.

As for the Merchants, their third loss in a row was 6-3 against the Sherwood Park Knights (20-10-0-3) last weekend at home. Period scores were 2-1 and 4-2 for the Knights. Ryan Creelman, Brady Reid and Robert Beirnes scored and Nicholas Addessi added two assists. In net was Robert Carter.

“It was a good game but they got the bounces. Sherwood Park's a good team, not taking anything away from them, but it went in their favour,” Moser said. “The boys played well. Each game as it progresses, I'm seeing improvement in the areas that we need. We're still working on the defence. I'm a big proponent that if you take care of your end, the offence will take care of itself.”

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