They won’t always be pretty but sometimes the ugly ones are the ones you had to fight the hardest for. Coquitlam finally bumped the slump and picked up a huge win on home ice, defeating the Cowichan Valley Capitals 6-5.
It was a game filled to the brim with pride as you could feel the extra emotion being poured into every shift by both sides. Cole Melady and Gavin Giesbrecht are two guys that leave everything out on the ice game in and game out, so when they collide against their old teams for the first time you can forget the sparks, it’s an all-out inferno. Several shifts saw the two go head to head in a battle for not only pride, but to try and prove who won the trade.
It was a goal scorers delight in this one. The first period saw four goals, two a side, as Drew Garzone wired home a powerplay goal to kick things off.
Brock Cummings would answer for Cowichan seven minutes later by finishing off a great cross seam feed from Matthew Swanson to even things up with the powerplay as well.
Oliver Gabrielson got a sweet give and go to break down the left wing before burying a snapshot past Ethan Morrow. The goal of the period belonged to Gavin Giesbrecht though. Giesbrecht tore down the left wing with pace and then cut hard in at the goal line before elevating the puck with a flip shot into the top corner over Ethan Simcoe’s shoulder to tie the game again. The birthday boy let the bench hear about it as he skated by, and that only served to fan the flames.
The second saw three goals, one for Cowichan and two for Coquitlam. Darius Bachelor and Andrej Kovacevic worked a great two on one that gave Bachelor the time and space to rip a shot five hole on Simcoe to take the first lead of the game for the Capitals. Coquitlam kept the see saw in motion with the man of the evening reintroducing himself to his old team.
The Express held the blue line on a clearing attempt from Cowichan to which a nifty through pass from Jake Manfre, after the defence decided to challenge him, sent Melady towards the goal. The Seaforth, Ontario product put the silky mitts on display and danced his way past Ethan Morrow to bring the contest back to square.
Then it was big Joe’s turn as Odyniec got the Express’ second powerplay goal of the game on a great tip in to finish off a nice pass from Kasper Walther-Sneve. Make it an even dozen on the season for Odyniec who received high praise from Jeff Wagner post game. The Associate Coach highlighted the speed and physicality Joe brings to the ice and that the team needs it night in and night out down the stretch.
Credit to the Capitals, at this stage it was 5-3 and the road team could have gone into preserve mode to prepare for their game against Langley tomorrow night. It was not to be as the defenders of the world’s largest hockey stick had so much more in the tank.
Kovacevic came back for seconds as he would get the favour returned from Darius Bachelor to bring the game within one. The former Langley Rivermen then proceeded to go back for thirds, setting up Frederic Deschenes to tie the game and start making Coquitlam sweat.
This all set the stage for the turning point. The Capitals are known for playing a gritty game through and through, but they got caught on the wrong side of the line, twice, on the same play. Darius Bachelor picked up a penalty for a blind side hit in the neutral zone and mere moments after, Matteus Soderbom caught Matheson Mason with a high stick in front of the Cowichan goal. Coquitlam now had a 5-on-3 Canadian Tire Powerplay to manufacture the game winner.
Patrick Sexton called timeout so the Express could draw it up in detail. And execute they did.
The Express were able to find Michael Rubin with a low to high pace that teed him up for a wrist shot between the faceoff circles. The first one was rifled just barely wide of the goal. Coquitlam stuck with it and Cowichan left him open again so he slapped the stick on the ice, received a second chance, and buried it. The roof blew off the Train Station as Rubin netted his fourth of the season and gave Coquitlam the 6-5 lead.
The Express never looked back, defending the crease with fervor and not allowing the Capitals many chances at all in their end. Coquitlam even worked the puck down to Capitals territory on more than one occasion once the net was empty, they just couldn’t put the puck across the line for the open cage.
This game was not without its faults for the Express. They gave up more quality chances than they should and paid the price on the scoresheet. Ethan Simcoe made 25 saves on 30 shots in what was one of his weaker performances of the season, but he still made some timely saves when his team needed them. His record improves to 6-2-0 for the year.
At the end of the evening Coquitlam finds themselves in the win column once again. 1-7 since the winter break coming into this game meant it was nearly a must win scenario. Especially so when you factor in playing a team that is below you in the standings. Something tells me though with watching Cowichan compete tonight, they are nowhere near done making noise this second half of the season.
You could feel the temperature increasing all night long at the Train Station but the Express dialed in and kept their discipline in check. When the fisticuffs started flying, or when a penalty was called in favour of Coquitlam, they didn’t get dragged into taking retaliatory penalties like they did on Wednesday against the Chiefs. While they did give up a powerplay goal, they did kill off a lengthy 5-on-3 midway through the second to defend their 4-3 lead.
The Express have a lot of good to take away from this game. The pace and physicality were excellent but not over the line. They didn’t buckle under the goalscoring onslaught. They also did not get goaded into letting the pressure cooker explode. Once the dust settled, round 1 of Melady versus Giesbrecht in their new colours went to Cole Melady.
Up next for the Express is a trip to the Lodge in Langley. The Rivermen host their school day game Wednesday with an 11am puck drop at George Preston Arena.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER OF THE GAME – James Shannon
MARINER BREWING 3 STARS
3rd – COW – Andrej Kovacevic – 1 G 2A
2nd – COQ – Oliver Gabrielson – 1G 1A
1st – COQ – Cole Melady – 1G 2A
– Ian Wilson
