Time to catch a break

Andrew Wilkins says the Lakehead Thunderwolves just need to catch a break.

It’s not like the team is playing terribly, the LU forward said Wednesday morning, readying to hit the road for games against Brock and Western, looking to snap an out-of-the-blue five-game losing skid that’s plummeted the team out of the top 10 rankings.

The timing of the slump is just lousy, Wilkins said.

“Obviously it’s not what you want going into the playoffs,” he said. “But we still have four more games left. The positive thing is we’re working hard. Pucks just aren’t going in. We’re getting our chances, which is a good thing as well.

“I think we’re motivated after a good practice here today and we’re looking for a hardworking weekend with some dirty goals to help turn this around.”

It hasn’t helped they’ve run into hot goaltenders during the slide. Western’s Josh Unice shut out the Wolves three times in two weekends, while Brock’s Kurt Jory held them at bay last Friday, a 3-2 road loss to a team on the move in the OUA West.

“We’re right there. I think a couple of weeks ago we could have put five pucks in the net, but it’s just one of those slumps that every good team goes through and it’s just a matter of working hard to turn it around.”

Newcomer Thomas Frazee, brought to the Wolves (16-8-0) at Christmas to provide offensive punch, but author of just one goal in eight games, said the slump is disappointing.

“I know the team was doing well before I got here,” the Vancouver native said. “I think every team goes through ups and downs throughout the year and games are harder to win after Christmas in any league. I think if we can just get back to the basics, shoot lot of pucks, go hard to the net and get some greasy goals, I think we’re going to come out of this all right.”

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The offense should improve with the return of suspended forward Matt Caria to the LU lineup, though the team will be without the services of line-mate Adam Sergerie, out indefinitely with post-concussion symptoms.

Coach Joel Scherban admitted the situation is seeping its way into the Thunderwolves dressing room, but his players do understand it’s not the end of their season by any means. He’s confident they can turn things around, starting Friday night against Brock.

“We’re a frustrated group, that’s for sure. But I think for the most part we’ve worked hard and we’ve played pretty well through this stretch. The one thing it’s shown us is that we have to elevate our game to stay with the elite teams,” Scherban said.

“Of our eight losses this year, five are to teams ranked in the top three in the country in Western and McGill, and four of those were by one goal.”

Of course, things don’t get any easier this weekend, a repeat of last weekend’s failed trip to St. Catharines and London. Brock and Western have combined to go 21-2-1 at home.

“So we need to elevate our game to win in buildings like that and beat the top teams in the country,” Scheran said.

Claw marks: Injured forward Jake Carrick (charley horse) is being re-evaluated later this week and may or may not make the trek south.

Follow Leith Dunick on Twitter: @LeithDunick