Not every game is going to go your way. That much has been evident for the Express through these last five contests but tonight there were still plenty of positive takeaways despite the final score. This one went down to the wire with these combatants dueling to a deadlock until the 10:30 mark of the third period.
The opening 20 was fast paced and exciting as fans were treated to another potential playoff preview. Nanaimo showed off the speed and potency that has turned their fortunes to favored since the New Year. Coquitlam were up to the task and played like a team ready to tear a strip off their opponent. Andrew Ness and Vladimir Nikitin were dialed in from the opening faceoff, making great saves through the entirety. The Loch Ness Monster found the game’s best save during this time as he denied a mid-air rebound right in front of the goal from Dylan Kinch. The glove was working and Ness looked geared for another great outing.
Coquitlam drew a powerplay in the final two minutes of the first and carried over into the second, using this as a great jumping off point to a middle frame that saw the home side outshoot Nanaimo 16-7. The puck movement on display was quick and everyone got looks on goal but Nikitin stood tall. Neither team gave an inch and the score stayed 0-0 through forty. Cooper Wilson made his first of two incredible defensive plays on the night in this frame as a rebound came right to Cole Lonsdale at the side of the goal but a well-timed stick lift denied what should have been a tap-in.
The Clippers found their footing again in the third, pulling out the UNO reverse card and outshooting the Express 16-8. Both teams generated good looks but had to work their tails off for them. Neither side made any glaring errors and odd-man rushes were at a premium. One of the best chances Nanaimo had was denied by Cooper Wilson as he made a diving play to block a shot from the left wing during a Clippers attack with numbers. Nanaimo finally broke through thanks to their stellar powerplay. Awarded a double-minor, they would make no mistake as Chase Hull finally broke the deadlock thanks to a shot from the left faceoff dot that just barely squeaked by Andrew Ness. The game stayed 1-0 until the Express tried to tie it up late with the extra attacker. Luke Lavery and Jack Rimmer found the daggers that put this one to bed.
Nanaimo now hold the unique marker of being the only team to shutout the Express this season. While the loss in the standings stings, Coquitlam went toe-to-toe with a team that is absolutely scorching hot and barely flinched. If a few bounces go the other way, a shot here or there is a few inches lower, then this one could have gone entirely different. At the end of the day you do have to find a way to get the job done and Coquitlam will certainly be looking at the lack of offence this weekend as a glaring issue. There are still two games left to make adjustments and find their scoring touch before Fred Page comes calling.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER – Cale Colwell
MARINER BREWING THREE STARS
3rd – NAN – Chase Hull – Game Winning Goal (Incorrectly credited to Collins on boxscore at time of publishing)
2nd – COQ – Andrew Ness – 37 Saves
1st – NAN – Vladimir Nikitin – 37 Saves
– Ian Wilson
