Every win is essential to keep the Cochrane Generals first-place hopes alive in the south division of the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL), including tonight's home game against the Strathmore Wheatland Kings.

The 4-0 win on the road over the High River Flyers last night helps to keep the Gens within striking distance of top spot. Still, only five points separate first from fourth in the highly-competitive division and there are no gimmes. The Gens need to continue to bring the hammer down in their final five games.

It was a two-goal night for both Gens leading scorer Talus Hume and Braden Bain, with one of Bain's goal coming on a short-handed penalty kill. Knute Loe keeps piling up the wins between the pipes after turning away 29 shots for his second shutout of the season. Recently named the HJHL's player of the week, he has now registered six wins in seven games.

The win gives the third-place Gens a two-point, two-game buffer against the fourth-place Flyers. The Gens also have one more game against the Flyers, here at Totem One next weekend.

Gens Head coach was hoping Strathmore would sneak out a win last weekend against either Okotoks or Coaldale to lend the Gens a hand, but no such luck. Still, the goal remains the same for the Gens to win the balance of their games.

"Our goal is to win six games and pick up 12 points and let the rest of the division do what they do and see where the chips fall," said Donald on route to High River last night.

"It could come right down to the last couple of games before we know who we're going to face in the playoffs."

Finishing first would be the icing on the cake for the Gens. It would earn them a bye from the first round of playoffs and home-ice advantage in at least the south division playoff run. 

The Coaldale Copperheads are now tied for first with a game in hand over the Bisons. The Gens also have a game in hand against the Okotoks but lag three points behind. The Flyers other remaining games are against the Bisons and the Copperheads and the Gens can't help but hope the Flyers take them both.

Strathmore gave the Gens a run for the money in their last meeting. The Kings are determined to keep the final playoff spot so expect them to come out flying against the Gens. It should be an exciting matchup.

Game time is 7:30 p.m.