For the fourth and final time the Coquitlam Express and Cowichan Valley Capitals meet and for the home side, this game could not be more important.
The race for the final playoff spot in the Coastal Conference is on with the Cowichan Capitals trying desperately to hold off the hard charging Powell River Kings. Neither team has an easy path to the post season with Powell River playing Alberni, West Kelowna and Vernon while Cowichan has to get through Coquitlam, Chilliwack and Surrey.
With only those three games remaining the Capitals are going to be a dangerous team to contend with tonight. The Express have already secured their place in the Fred Page Cup playoffs but they must not allow complacency to sneak into their game this evening. Treat this game like it is the postseason because Cowichan certainly will be. These late season games with so much on the line can provide some powerful hockey moments, so it won’t be one to miss.
Both teams have been struggling as of late with the Express sitting at 2-8 in their last 10 and the Capitals at 3-7. Now is certainly not the time for the Capitals to lose steam and they will be looking to right the ship in a hurry.
Cowichan come into this game with the league’s third worst penalty kill, which with the recent boost in form the Express’ powerplay has seen, could be a problem for the home team. The Express were held off the board with the extra man against Salmon Arm but they tallied against Cranbrook and Victoria.
Overall, the Capitals have had some great hockey going for them over the month of March. Despite the record in the last 10 games they had an impressive 2-0 win over Alberni at home followed by a 4-3 overtime loss to the Eagles a few weekends ago. They are riding the emotion of a pulse pounding three game set against Powell River so discipline for them and Coquitlam will be paramount at the offset.
The Express need to dig in right from the start tonight. Use their speed and strength to attack the Capitals and get under their skin early. If they can leverage the emotional tidal wave Cowichan is experiencing due to their fight for their playoff lives, the Express can turn that into some powerplay opportunities and continue to keep the special teams sticks hot.
Coquitlam will also need this recent upswing of Kasper Walther-Sneve to continue. The native of Oslo, Norway has a three-game point streak going including goals in his last two games. His goal against Victoria last night is exactly the type of effort he is known to give on a nightly basis so to see it convert for him is exceptional. If the depth scoring for the Express can continue heating up over the final three games, it will be a great tool for the postseason.
The hot stick on the Capitals to beware is Luke Lavery. The local boy from Nanaimo has 10 points in his last nine games including four goals in his last five. The Express must work to get into the shooting lanes, keep him to the outside and get Lavery out of rhythm.
Another important duel to watch in this game will be Brock Cummings versus James Shannon in the faceoff circle. The two aces on the draw have been quite something this season and earn their teams so many extra opportunities at possession. Timely faceoff wins both offensively and defensively will change the outlook of this game tonight.
The opening faceoff is scheduled for 6pm PST at the home of the big hockey stick. Catch all the action on FloHockey!
– Ian Wilson
