Caps still trying to find an edge

Caps’ captain Mikael Jung tries to control the puck on the doorstep of the Vernon net guarded by Austin Smith.

Andrew Leong

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The only 20-year-old left in the Cowichan Valley Capitals' lineup returned from injury, but isn't back to peak form just yet and the team suffered a familiar fate in two weekend B.C. Hockey League games.

Mikael Jung's presence should give the young Caps a big boost during the last two months of the season.

The Caps are working hard, but still not getting the results as evidenced by a 4-2 loss to the Grizzlies in Victoria Friday and a 3-1 defeat against the Vernon Vipers at Cowichan Arena Saturday night.

"We have a heckuva time scoring,'' said Caps' head coach Jim Ingram. "We had our opportunities but don't put pucks in the net.

"For as little as we try to give up, we generate little.''

The players are clearly frustrated but doing their best to do what it takes for some positive results.

"They're staying with it,'' said Ingram. "They're handling that part well. We've stayed in good shape in terms of injuries, other than Mikael Jung. They want to do everything we're asking them to do.''

At Victoria, the Caps had their best period in the second, playing the Grizzlies even 1-1 on a goal by Hayden-James Berra and enjoying a 10-7 edge in shots.

"The first and third (periods), we turned a lot of pucks over,'' said Ingram. "No surprise, when we don't turn pucks over, we score and keep the game close.''

Kyle Horsman also scored for the Caps in that game.

Against Vernon, it was an even game with both teams directing 31 shots at the net. But the Caps' inability to finish was the story again, with the only goal coming from Jamie Waddington in the last three minutes.

Patrick Spano was in goal for the Caps against Victoria and Connor LaCouvee against Vernon. Both have been providing the team with excellent goaltending the last few games.

The Caps have an extremely busy schedule from now until the regular-season finale in early March, including home games against Powell River Friday and Merritt Saturday.