If the Coquitlam Express are to advance to the next round of the BC Hockey League playoffs, they’ll have to hope the home ice advantage in its series against the Victoria Grizzlies continues at least one more time.
The Express will have to win game six Sunday at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex after the Grizzlies defeated Coqutilam 7-5 Friday at the Q Centre. The result gives Victoria a 3-2 advantage in the best-of-seven series.
After the paucity of goals in a thrilling 1-0 overtime win Wednesday by the Express, the red light flashed frequently Friday.
In fact, it lit three times in 28 seconds to open the floodgates five minutes into the game.
The deluge started with two goals in 17 seconds by Victoria’s Tobias Pitka. But 11 seconds later, Thomas Zocco brought the visitors back within one.
Power play goals by the Grizzlies’ Landon Mackie and Will Schumacher sandwiched another by Coquitlam’s Nikitia Sitnikov to send the teams to the dressing room with Victoria leading 4-1.
As has been another pattern this series, the Grizzlies held a huge advantage in shots, 23-10.
Seamus Latta increased Victoria’s lead to 5-1 10 seconds after the break, but the Express chugged its way back into the game with goals by Connor Seeley and Sam Frandina.
James Shannon completed Coquitlam’s comeback 12 seconds into the third period.
It didn’t last.
Pitka’s third goal of the game was the winner and Landon Mackie assured the victory when he scored into the empty net with 31 seconds remaining in regulation time.
Unlike the previous two games when Express goalie Andrew Ness faced an average of 60 shots, he had only 40 come his way in game five while his teammates directed 26 at Grizzlies’ keeper Oliver Auyeung-Ashton.
In the nine times the teams have met in the regular and post season, the home team has won each game.
If, indeed, Coquitlam is able to continue that pattern Sunday, the decisive seventh game will be played Tuesday. In Victoria.
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