The Express and Grizzlies have had a week to prepare. Since their fateful collision last Saturday at the Train Station, battle lines have been drawn, tape has been watched, players have honed their skills and coaches have concocted schemes. It is all in preparation for opening night as the curtains draw back on Game 1 at the Q Centre. This opening round series has all the makings of a blockbuster should these teams bring the best version of themselves forward.
Coquitlam and Victoria met four times in the regular season, three times going beyond 60 minutes. The home team has won every contest but only once has that provided a lopsided benefit. The biggest victory by either side this season was a 5-1 triumph by the Grizzlies on November 23rd. That final score is slightly misleading as the Express generated a plethora of quality chances that night, they just ran headlong into a scorching hot Kyle Kelsey.
For the Express, winning tonight or tomorrow may be the most important opening key to this first round. Changing the narrative from the importance of home ice in the season series will be huge in gaining momentum heading back to pivotal contests at the Train Station Tuesday and Wednesday. Coquitlam are no strangers to being road warriors either. They held a 13-9-4-1 record away from the Poirier and earned multiple wins in what is considered one of the toughest road barns to play in, the Chilliwack Colisuem. This isn’t the Eastern Fraser Valley however, this is is Q and the Victoria faithful will likely show up and show out for their team. The Express must take the energy out of the building early and take a firm grip on the steering wheel tonight.
Victoria managed a 15-8-4 record on the regular season at the Q Centre and definitely take advantage of the home cooking. If they can keep control of the heightened emotions that come with a big Game 1 crowd it will serve them well. The energy of your barn behind you is a heck of a motivator and that is why teams compete so doggedly for. The Grizzlies will likely work to wear down an already depleted Express lineup that is missing key pieces coming into the playoff run. Their size and physicality is well documented and Coquitlam need to be prepared for the war of attrition. With the Grizzlies completing the regular season Top 5 in both powerplay and penalty kill numbers, minding their discipline will be huge tonight. Especially considering their opponent in the Express were the least penalized team in the BCHL this season.
You can catch all the action live on FloHockey tonight with puckdrop scheduled for 7PM PST. Pregame show gets underway around 6:45.
FLOHOCKEY BROADCAST (Select “Away” Stream)
– Ian Wilson
