Victoria’s offence has been hot as of late and it stayed cooking against Coquitlam with a final of 6-2 Friday night. The Express had their opportunities but the momentum they built through the first two periods was snuffed out by a third period charge for the Grizzlies.
The first deadly chance of the contest went to Kasper Walther-Sneve and Jackson Krill as the Norwegian found Krill on a 2-on-1 cross ice feed but Oliver Auyeung-Ashton slid across and absolutely robbed Krill with the glove to preserve a nil-nil game.
Chase Pirtle opened the scoring on a rocket from the left side of the ice 6:06 into the game. Not a lot of daylight to shoot at as Adam Manji kept the angle well covered but sometimes the right shot can sneak through over the shoulder.
Julian Cull netted his fourth of the season as a turnover on the Express breakout led to a downhill effort 1-on-1 with the defence and Cull’s snapshot looked like it partially deflected off the poke check of Luke Vardy before beating Manji five-hole.
Coquitlam drew within one before the period was done thanks to another 2-on-1 effort that was not to be denied. Nate Crema got a jump out of the defensive zone down the right wing and Walther-Sneve worked his tail off to get behind the defence and be open for the pass. Crema found him and one slick backhand deke later the game was within one.
The second frame was fairly even for both teams. Victoria found a one-shot advantage overall but the Express were the ones to strike. The powerplay continued its recent string of solid form with Cole Melady getting his second special teams goal in the last three games. A shot from the blueline tipped off the Grizzlies netminder and the Seaforth, Ontario product was waiting at the near post to bang it home.
The Express manufactured a few other opportunities during the second but much to the puck luck they have had lately, opportunities would go just high or just wide, or Auyeung-Ashton managed to pull another save out of his bag of tricks.
It didn’t take long in the third for Victoria to bring the Q to its feet. Reegan Hiscock found the twine with a laser for his 14th of the campaign beating Adam Manji on the short side post and in.
Then Tobias Pitka kept the floodgates open as he gloved down a puck in the slot and found a way to sneak it between the post and the Express goalie from an incredibly sharp angle. And just over 20 seconds later, Victoria added yet another to widen the gap to 5-2. A failed clearing attempt was held in at the line and the ensuing shot from the point was tipped in front. That tip was denied but the rebound was not to be deterred as Ryan Watt tucked it between the legs of the sliding Manji.
Coquitlam were awarded a four-minute powerplay following the goal as Luke Vardy was high sticked at the near side of the net as the play was sent over the goal line. The Grizzlies held the line and managed a short-handed breakaway that was sent packing by the Express netminder.
12:17 into the third the final nail in the coffin was struck as Julian Cull sent a stretch feed from nearly his own goal line all the way to a streaking Luc Pelletier at the Express blueline. Pelletier broke in behind the defence and beat Manji five-hole to extend the lead to four and the Grizzlies never looked back.
Coquitlam continued their impressive post striking streak a few minutes later as Cole Melady nearly found the back of the net around a sprawling Auyeung-Ashton, only to be denied by the red steel. It can be so demoralizing to find your opportunity only to have it be just an inch too far one way or the other.
The Express make their way north on the Island to Cowichan for a duel with their former teammate Gavin Giesbrecht and the Capitals.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER – Richard Baran
MARINER BREWING 3 STARS
3rd – VIC – Elliot Dutil – 2A
2nd – VIC – Tobias Pitka – 1G 1A
1st – VIC – Julian Cull – 1G 1A
– Ian Wilson
