Game 5 was a heartbreaker on the road for the Express. The Grizzlies built a 4-2 lead through 20 minutes, and then instantly added to begin the second period. Coquitlam dug themselves a three-goal hole but clawed their way out before a late marker and subsequent empty-netter gave Victoria the edge.
All was calm for the opening five minutes of Friday Night before three goals exploded onto the scoresheet in less than 30 seconds. Tobias Pitka netted two, including a nice tip off a point shot thru traffic. Then Thomas Zocco responded in his first appearance since the injury in Game 2. He attacked on the right wing in transition and labeled a wrist shot on the short side.
The special teams were next up to the party as the Grizzlies put their powerplay woes behind them. Landon Mackie and Will Schumacher tallied on the man-advantage but the Express kept within shouting distance thanks to a Nikita Sitnikov powerplay goal sandwiched in the middle. The Express completed a nice passing play with Nolan Flynn attacking space on the right, passing to Pendy at the side of the goal, and the Kazakhstani international was coming hard down the left wing side to bang it home.
Victoria made it 5-2 10 seconds into the second period with Seamus Latta grabbing their first of the playoffs. They say the most impactful goals happen in the first minute and last minute, but the opening seconds is another heartbreaker entirely. Momentum was firmly in hand and the Grizzlies looked ready to walk away with Game 5.
Coquitlam kept their heads and chipped away through the remainder of the middle frame. Connor Seeley was the first to join the comeback trail as he threw a puck on goal from distance and it went off Auyeung-Ashton’s blocker and in. That goal was just another example of the benefits moving the biscuit to the net provides. Simple plays can have the biggest impact. Sam Frandina then brought the Express within one as he went hard to the goal and Carson McGinley hit him with a great feed to tap home past the Victoria netminder. This series has featured a plethora of netfront battles and Frandina exemplified the importance of good positioning and being willing to go to the tough areas.
To kick off the third, James Shannon flipped the script and scored 12 seconds in. Sam Frandina fired a thru-pass to the Captain who split the defence and beat Auyeung-Ashton with a nice backhand-forehand move.
Once again these teams showcased how even they are and what playoff hockey is all about. The 5-5 tie held until the 12:03 mark when Tobias Pitka completed the hat trick with another tip-in from a point shot. There was a brief review about a potential high-stick on the play but the call on the ice stood. Despite some great efforts and close calls, the Express couldn’t find a 6th goal to tie the game. Landon Mackie sealed the deal with a full length of the ice shot that cruised into the empty net.
The Express are a team that know how to hang around in Hockey games. It is a sentiment with mixed appreciation because the best teams need to be able to battle back from adverse conditions. However in order to be good, you need practice. Far too often Coquitlam have dug themselves into a hole and then produced the necessary offence to hit the reset button. Five goals should be enough to take down the Grizzlies but instead six plus the empty net go the other way.
The bright side of last night’s situation is that Coquitlam were neck and neck with Victoria despite being severely banged up. Zocco wasn’t at 100%, Mason Kesselring went down with an injury partway thru the first, and add in the other huge missing pieces that are already sidelined. A gritty comeback effort like last night isn’t possible without a room full of guys that are willing to go out there and play for each other, especially the guys that can’t be in the fight themselves. The coaching staff was proud of the compete from the boys, despite the unfortunate outcome.
Now it’s back to the Poirier for Game 6 on Sunday. The Express’ season is on the line and now is the part where we see who truly wants the year to continue. Will it be one last rodeo for Coquitlam? Or can they force a Game 7. Tickets are on sale now so head to the tickets page and secure yours! There has never been a time where energy is more important from the fans.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER – Thomas Molson
MARINER BREWING THREE STARS
3rd – COQ – Sam Frandina – 1G 2A
2nd – VIC – Landon Mackie – 2G
1st – VIC – Tobias Pitka – Hat Trick
– Ian Wilson
