The Express and Grizzlies battled to a 3-1 final on Saturday night in another entertaining contest at the Q. Despite the hard-nosed effort from Coquitlam, they are left with more questions than answers as Victoria comes away from the first weekend of the series with a coveted 2-0 advantage.
Andrej Kovacevic led by example right out of the gates with his seventh career BCHL playoff goal, burying a rebound off his own shot. The veteran’s marker capped off a spirited first few minutes from the Express where they could have started the game up by multiple more goals if not for the work of Kyle Kelsey. Mason Kesselring had the best prior chance with a wicked one-timer from the left faceoff circle that the Grizzlies netminder nabbed with the glove.
In similar fashion to Friday Night, Victoria had an answer for a Coquitlam goal nearly immediately. An odd-man rush for the Grizzlies resulted in Sam Ward’s first career playoff goal thanks to a nice pass from Reegan Hiscock. The teams battled to a stalemate from that point forward until the deadlock finally broke in the third period.
Hiscock was at it again as the Grizzlies earned a chance down ice thanks to a turnover at their own blueline. The third-year forward from St John, Newfoundland ripped home a beauty into the top-left corner and put Victoria ahead for good. Malcolm Green added the insurance marker, banging home a rebound from the slot following a great battle in front of the goal at the 12:18 mark of the third.
Coquitlam came ready to compete in Game 2. The start was hot and the Express looked poised to tie the series at 1-1. Unfortunately, goalscoring remains the biggest question mark after the first two games. You have to get the puck past the opposition to come away victorious, no matter how good your goaltender is. Most notably is the absence of the Express top six from the scoresheet save but once in four goals scored this weekend. That was a hefty difference maker as the Grizzlies big guns came to bear with Tom Molson having a two-goal night Friday, Chase Pirtle tying Game 1, and Reegan Hiscock registering a multi-point performance in Game 2.
Looking at the positives, Coquitlam’s penalty kill held the Grizzlies off the board through the opening set of contests and the depth scoring for the Express has come ready to rock and roll. Andrew Ness is providing the team a chance to succeed and the defence in front of him are holding the line well with smart decision making and great physicality.
Games 3 and 4 await at the Poirier this Tuesday and Wednesday, and with the home team winning all six matchups between the regular season and playoffs, the Express have no reason to hit the panic button yet. If this team can come out and dominate the next two, taking a ton of momentum back to Victoria for a fifth game next weekend, this series might just be prepped to turn on its head. The questions are there, it’s time to find the answers.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER – Julian Cull
MARINER BREWING THREE STARS
3rd – VIC – Alex Hebblethwaite – 1A
2nd – VIC – Reegan Hiscock – 1G 1A
1st – VIC – Landon Mackie – 1A
– Ian Wilson
