VICTORIA 4
COQUITLAM 4
听
The Victoria Grizzlies threw everything and the kitchen sink at Coquitlam on Friday night at The Q Centre, but couldn鈥檛 knock the Express off the tracks.
The Grizzlies outshot the Express 39-28 鈥� including pouring 19 on netminder Reid Cooper in the first period 鈥� but could only manage one point on the night after playing to a 4-4 tie.
After a dominant first two periods by the Grizzlies, who never trailed in the game, the Express got a game-tying goal from Will Lawrence with 4:10 remaining in the third period to force overtime.
After plenty more chances by the Grizzlies in the 4-on-4 OT, Victoria kept the heat on in double-overtime but couldn鈥檛 solve Cooper.
And all of a sudden the sa国际传媒 Hockey League-leading Grizzlies have just one win in their last five games. They have points in four of them, but have trouble nailing down a 鈥榃鈥�.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a learning thing. We have to learn that every two points is big in this league,鈥� Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon said after seeing his team lead blow a 4-2 lead midway through the second.
鈥淭wo points are big whether they鈥檙e in September or February and we have to learn to keep working because nothing comes easy in this league. We definitely let one slip away tonight.鈥�
Veteran Cole Pickup opened the scoring just two minutes into the game with his team-leading seventh of the season, but like they did all game, the Express came right back and tied it when Owen Stout beat Grizzlies starter Mitchel Benson from the slot. The goal came as the Grizzlies were taking it to the Express, who are now 2-4-0-1 on the year but have only played one home game.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a big, fast team that just wouldn鈥檛 quit tonight and I think we tired as the game went on which can be understandable after a tough weekend at the Showcase and then playing on Wednesday,鈥� said Didmon, whose team moves to 5-1-1-2.
After Nathan Looysen tapped in a nice feed from Pickup at the eight minute mark of the second, Cory Hatcher buried a great pass from defenceman Jake Stevens four minutes later and the Grizzlies found themselves with a 4-2 lead.
But with 41 seconds left in the middle frame, Blake Hayward beat Benson to send the Express to the dressing room oozing confidence.
Didmon tried to break up the momentum by switching to Matthew Galadja in the third, but the Express kept coming. Benson allowed three goals on just 14 shots.
Marty Westhaver had the other goal for the Grizzlies, who were again minus veterans Brett Stirling on defence and Nick Guiney up front.
鈥淲e are short some bodies and that probably played into the fatigue a little, but we better get used to that because it鈥檚 a long season and you鈥檙e usually always missing someone,鈥� added Didmon.
The Grizzlies don鈥檛 have time to dwell on missed opportunities as they board a bus early this morning for a trip to Powell River to face the Kings at 7:15 tonight.
And the Kings have caught fire, winning their fifth straight on Friday thanks to a 5-3 victory over the Vernon Vipers.
