MontrealAlouettes.com
MONTREAL – After being one quarter away from sealing a home date for the Eastern Final this past weekend in Winnipeg, the Alouettes may now ultimately be forced to take the scenic route during their 2011 playoff run. Unfazed, their goal remains the same: a third-straight Grey Cup.
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Veteran guard Scott Flory is confident the Als will get the job done in the playoffs this year, regardless of the route they take getting there. |
“We let one slip away from us and that’s unfortunate,” admitted veteran guard Scott Flory of his team’s costly 26-25 loss to the Blue Bombers. “It’s not that we didn’t play hard. We did… we always do. But the problem now is we’ve taken our destiny out of our hands. We need to win the next two and have the Bombers drop one.”
That simple math aside, Flory and his teammates would have every reason to dwell on the one that got away. Instead their focus is squarely on the road ahead with the Stampeders and Lions on deck to close out the regular season.
“We made our bed and we have to move past this,” prescribed Flory. “We need to move on. We’re all professionals and we should all be motivated enough to win these next two games.”
Any players having trouble heeding Flory’s advice didn’t have to look far for a silver lining to their current playoff situation.
“The great part is that we get a chance to redeem ourselves,” said head coach Marc Trestman. “After all, this wasn’t an exit game. We don’t have to live with the pain for six months. We have six days to get ready for the next game and get back to work.”
A first-round bye would have been a welcome luxury for the Als, but already having a playoff home game in their back pocket still means a guaranteed date at Olympic Stadium, even if it might be a semi-final battle with Hamilton on November 13.
“Truth be told, of course we still want to host the Eastern Final and we’re striving for that. The season is far from over,” reasoned Flory. “And worst case scenario, we know that we have a home playoff game. So that’s good.”
Good for the Alouettes, maybe. Truth is, given the choice, opponents would rather steer clear of the Big O altogether. The Alouettes are after all an impressive a 7-1 in Eastern Finals decided in the friendly confines of the Expos’ former digs.
While the Alouettes may need a little help from the Bombers to finish first in the East, coming out on top in their two remaining games is their plan regardless.
“Now it’s all about winning our last two games to hit the playoffs on a high note,” concluded Flory. “Even if we don’t finish first, winning out is important to us and that starts this Sunday at home against Calgary.”
The Alouettes will host the Calgary Stampeders at Percival Molson Stadium this Saturday, October 30 at 1:00 p.m. (RDS HD, TSN HD, 98,5 fm, CJAD and Sirius 157).
Tickets for the game can be purchased by visiting TicketMaster.ca or by calling 514-790-1245.
