The Coquitlam Express scored five unanswered goals to overcome a sluggish start and 3-1 deficit to defeat the Victoria Grizzlies 6-3 Tuesday at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
The win lifts the Express back into their first round best-of-seven BC Hockey League playoff series that the Grizzlies now lead two games to one. The home team has won every game, continuing a pattern the sides set during their four games during the regular season.
Lacking the urgency required by a team that needed a win to avoid an elimination game on Wednesday, the Express were outshot by the visitors 22-5 in the first period and outscored 3-1.
But the game’s momentum shifted early in the second frame when Mason Kesselring and James Shannon scored in the first 3:58 to get Coquitlam back on even terms.
Carson McGinley then scored the game winner at 10:12, batting the puck out of midair and past Grizzlies goalie Kyle Kelsey.
McGinley said his experience playing lacrosse when he was younger may have helped when he swatted at the fluttering puck
“The hand-eye coordination worked there,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to bat that one in.”
Nate Crema extended the Express lead 2:12 into the third period and Trip Pendy iced the win when he scored into the empty net with 39 seconds remaining in regulation time.
McGinley, who added two assists to his goal and was named the game’s first start, said Coquitlam’s leadership group helped calm everyone in the dressing room after the team’s slow start.
“That set the tone for the rest of the game, and we never looked back.”
Kesselring also had a three-point night and Crema had an assist to go along with his goal.
Andrew Ness had 52 saves in the Express net, including 19 in the third period to go along with Victoria’s first period barrage.
Kelsey faced 24 shots in the Grizzlies net.
Coquitlam can tie the series with a win in game four, Wednesday, 7 p.m., at Poirier.
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