In any playoff series you have to let bygones be bygones and buckle in for the next game. Remember the good and the bad but don’t dwell, let it fuel you.
Coquitlam and Alberni gave the BCHL one of the most exciting Game 1’s it could have asked for. Multiple lead changes and fast paced action all evening long. A tip of the hat to the crowd in Port Alberni as well is a must with how loud that building was.
The playoffs are the end of the line for any season. This is the time where all that is left in the tank must be spent or else the season ends earlier than you hoped for. Now on the second half of the back-to-back this weekend, who’s tank has more left to give will be the important question. Nothing prepares you for the jump the postseason brings in both competitive spirit and pace of the game. Both the Bulldogs and Express will need to continue adapting.
Four goals last night for Coquitlam is a great sign of the offence rising to the occasion for the playoffs. The talk at the end of the season was if the sticks could get hot at the right time and if they can keep up the pace then hopefully the defence will settle in right alongside it.
Of those four goals, Drew Garzone found two of them, Luke Vardy got one, there was a powerplay marker and an extra attacker goal. That’s a solid spread for Game 1 but those trends need to continue. The blueline for Coquitlam is gifted offensively so guys like Rubin, Vardy, Frandina and Brandes will need to keep contributing at the level they know they can. Brandes had that wonderful drive last night that led to Garzone’s first goal.
Now Garzone getting two goals is fantastic, but the rest of the top guys need to rally around that and get in on the action. Jake Manfre has scored one goal in his last 11 games so he is due to catch fire again at any moment. In the two-game set against Victoria to end the regular season his shot looked great and he hit multiple posts. Jacob Bonkowksi is another guy who hasn’t quite found his offensive stride as of late albeit he did grab an assist last night. One goal in his last eight games is a monkey that he will want to properly throw off his back. Don’t think for a second though that these players haven’t been working their tails off and contributing to the game in other capacities.
A massive key to tonight’s game will be net-front presence and subsequent puck control for both sides. Adam Manji was beat three times by plays that broke down in front of the goal and on the other side Drew Garzone tallied while parked immediately in front of Callum Tung. Controlling the positioning of yourself and opposing players as well as being sure of sticks when clearing pucks away from the goal is paramount.
Zone control and not going for an easy clear is also something to watch for this evening as well. The Express weren’t able to cleanly exit their zone in overtime and that led to the Bulldogs hemming them in and eventually scoring the OT winner. Finding different angles to get past the blueliners or being sure of a self carry of the puck will be a good adjustment.
Discipline is always on the forefront, tonight will be no different. The Express stayed relatively inside the lines, taking one less penalty than the Bulldogs, and of the five penalties Alberni earned, three were for roughing. The Express cannot afford to be dragged into the chippy game that a playoff atmosphere can fuel. The penalty kill for Coquitlam was one of the best in the BCHL this season and will need that level of efficiency to carry into the playoffs. Last night they killed off 2 of 3 with the powerplay tally going to Grayson Badger. With Alberni being the second worst powerplay unit in the league this campaign, only ahead of the Express, keeping that part of their game from waking up is something the coaching staff will likely focus on going forward.
If you can’t make it out to Alberni, be sure to tune in for the broadcast on FloHockey with puck drop scheduled for 7pm PST. I am beyond excited to say that I will have the call for the away feed on this game! So if you’re looking for my voice to describe this one to you then select the away audio for tonight’s contest on FloHockey.
– Ian Wilson
