Griz Take Bite Out Of Storm

The road has not been a friendly place for the Grande Prairie Storm this season.

A 5-3 loss to the Olds Grizzlys in the southern Alberta city on Saturday night was the 20th loss away from the friendly confines of Revolution Arena for the sixth place Storm.

The team has four more chances to work on their road before the post season begins.

With a seven point lead on the eighth place Lloydminster Bobcats and two on the seventh place Drayton Valley Thunder the chances of a playoff appearance for the first time since 2012-13 look reasonably good for the Storm.

Advancement out of the first round, however, won't happen without some success on the road.

The team has three wins in 26 tries away from Revolution. They can make it four on Sunday when they visit the Oilers in Okotoks.

Saturday night in Olds it was another one of those close, but not close enough situations.

And, again, getting behind the eight-ball in the first period.

The Grizzlys took a 2-0 advantage after 20 minutes and then, like it was Friday in a loss to the Canmore Eagles when they trailed 3-0 in the first, even-up on the scoreboard for most of hockey game.

The teams traded two goals each in the second and each had a goal in the third.

Parker Smyth, Jason Wenzel and Dolan Bjorson, the Away Star, had the GP goals while Jared Power had two and Brad Girard, Landon Gross and Tyr Thompson singles for the Griz.

Xavier Burghardt was in net for the Storm facing 28 shots while the Storm directed 22 at Andrew Henderson at the other end.

The game against the Oilers is the last of six in a row on the road for the Storm. They return home for the first time since mid-January to take on the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on Friday and Saturday