BY SCOTT HADDOW
With numerous key Central Division and
Eastern Conference games over the next few days, Sudbury Wolves
head coach and GM Mike Foligno is expecting his troops to put
the hammer down and take assertive control of the
situation.
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The Wolves need defencemen like
Jonathan D'Aversa to become even more offensive as
the playoffs approach. |
Sudbury plays Brampton tonight at the Sudbury
Arena. Game time at the Sudbury Arena is 7:30 pm. The Wolves
then get busy on Sunday with a home tilt against Mississauga.
Game time is 2 pm.
Sudbury played Toronto last night, winning
4-3 in overtime. Wolves' forward Benoit Pouliot also
returned to form last night. He scored two goals, recorded an
assist on Kevin Baker's goal and had a +/- rating of plus
3.
Foligno said the time is now for the Wolves
to realize their true potential as they sit in eighth spot, and
final playoff spot, in the Eastern Conference.
"It's an important time," said Foligno.
"The playoffs are coming and we need to be at the top of our
game. This is where the turning point of the season takes place
if our guys really start giving a little extra and competing
harder. There's a lot of four-point games coming up against
teams in our conference and division , so we can jump up in the
standings with solid efforts."
Establishing a decent winning streak is the
right medicine.
"The key for any team to have success is to
play a team game," said Foligno. "We need to do what it takes
to win more and that's not giving up odd man rushes, paying
the price to score goals and getting more shots through."
A little faith will also go a long way.
"We told the players to believe in themselves
and in each other,"said Foligno. "If they do that and apply
themselves...We can win a lot of games."
The Wolves are eager to prove their true
worth as well.
"We need to get back on the winning track,"
said Devin DiDiomete, who will miss the game as he's
serving the second game of a two-game suspension. "We are way
better than an eighth place team. We just have to gel and keep
working."
Foligno would also like to see his defence
corps, and the rest of the team, lit up the score board again
like the group did at the start of the season.
"We need everyone playing better... It falls
on all their shoulders now."
The Wolves have two of the best defencemen at
creating offence in Marc Staal (30 points in 31 games) and
Jonathan D'Aversa (34 points in 38 games). The Wolves need
huge contributions from those players, and new defender Nick
Tuzzolino (28 points in 39 games) to kick up the offence a
notch.
