It was a role reversal for Game 3 as the Bulldogs pulled ahead and then fended off a late push by the Express to take a 2-1 series lead.
Quite often hockey games can be won and lost early on depending on how the pace is dictated. Alberni Valley knew they needed to respond in a big way on the road to wrestle back control of the series. They dictated the flow of this one out the gates and never looked back.
Talking with Head Coach and GM of the Bulldogs Joe Martin pre-game the notion was clear. They needed their guys to put their best self forward and awaken to play a better contest. Alberni took that to heart and got on the board twice in the first 10 minutes of the game. Both goals went to Grayson Badger as he matched Drew Garzone with four on the series. The first marker came on a bar-down shot off a faceoff win for the Bulldogs. Badger followed that up with a nice tuck-in off a rebound which he banked off Adam Manji and into the goal. Jacob Terpstra also added to Alberni Valley’s first period spoils.
The Express got on the board in the opening frame thanks to a first BCHL playoff goal from Noah Dziver. To make it even sweeter, the goal came shorthanded. The Winnipeg product snapped it five-hole after knocking it away from the Bulldogs during their breakout. He added an assist on Jake Manfre’s entry to the scoresheet later in the contest to earn a two-point night and third star honours.
Speaking of Manfre’s tally. The Princeton tiger commit drove home a wrist shot from the left side of the ice just over a minute and a half into the third period to bring the game within two. Jacob Terpstra provided and inadvertent screen to Callum Tung and the Manfre shot whistled just past Terpstra and around the glove of the Bulldog goalie.
The goal of the night had to be the fourth of the game for the road side. It came late in the second period on a Bulldogs powerplay where Zeke Nicholson took matters into his own hands and sniped the top corner from a sharp angle for his second of the postseason. It originally looked like he might try to centre the puck until he let it fly in a flash.
All of this came to a penultimate conclusion with a two-goal game heading into the final three minutes of regulation. The Express pulled the goalie during a timeout and went with the extra attacker. For some reason the Express have an unbelievable knack for scoring with the net empty and it continued tonight. Sam Frandina let a cannon of a slapshot go from the blueline and it found its way through to the top of the goal to bring the score within one.
Flashbacks were happening to Game 5 of the opening round last season against Chilliwack where Coquitlam scored twice with the net empty to tie the game and send it to overtime. Unfortunately, those memories would stay just out of reach.
The Bulldogs took a penalty in the final minute when Grayson Badger hooked Jacob Bonkowski, stopping him from taking a shot at the possible game tying goal. Coquitlam went 6-on-4. Oddly enough that penalty almost served to benefit Alberni. The road team was able to clear the puck a few times without fear of icing which ate up precious moments. Finally, Lucas Buzziol corralled the puck enough to flip a backhander high down the ice and it just barely curled into the goal. Game over.
Credit to the Express they played well in their comeback bid but it was too little too late. Talking with Associate Coach Brandon Cox after the game the confidence in the room has not been shaken and they will be back with a focused mind and able spirit in Game 4 tomorrow. They just need to simplify their game and dictate the pace early instead of playing catchup like tonight.
That’s playoff hockey. Reset, recharge and refocus for what might be must-win tomorrow. Alberni taking a 3-1 lead back home to the Dawg Pound is a scary concept so the Express will need to bring their A game to the Train Station once again.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER – Jake Manfre
MARINER BREWING 3 STARS
3rd – COQ – Noah Dziver – 1G 1A
2nd – AVB – Zeke Nicholson – 1G 1A
1st – AVB – Grayson Badger – 2G 1A
– Ian Wilson
