So what the
hell was that. A hard fought battle by both teams, ended by a call with three
mins to go in regulation that neither of the refs saw. The issue is compounded
by the fact that if the Grizzlies where the offending team, why where they still
allowed to keep attacking the Express in their zone for the next 52 secs. David
Mazurek, was adjudged by the linesman, to have given Coquitlam’s power forward,
Brady Shaw a shot to the head which the linesman caught. Now, myself and six
other fans I was with had a great view of the action and saw minimal contact involving
both players going back and forth. However, Brady Shaw, went down like an Argentine
soccer player and after receiving some attention after the play was finally
blown down; Shaw, after a little help shot up quite happily and skipped his way
back to the Express bench.
This resulted in a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for Mazurek setting up the Express to score the winner on that powerplay.
This resulted in a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for Mazurek setting up the Express to score the winner on that powerplay.
This whole
incident was a bad call and a disgrace to end that way, after a high tempo game from both teams,
to come down to a very controversial call by the linesman.
The
Grizzlies would settle down a bit, with DJ Jones and the make shift line of
Leo/Gerry Fitzgerald and Brett Hartskamp putting pressure on the Coquitlam
goalie Huggins. The biggest line that I’ve seen suit up in Grizzlies uniforms,
Lawson, Mazurak and Nicholishen looked like they had some chemistry going and
had the Express under the cosh at times.
The
Grizzlies continued pressure would pay off after a well worked goal would see
DJ Jones, pick out AP, Justin Polishuck in acres of space, who put a perfectly
placed shot over Huggins right shoulder to bring the Grizzlies back into at a
2-1 Express lead.
Credit to DeJong
and Urban for some stellar penalty killing at the end of the period sending the
puck back into the Express zone everytime Coquitlam got in the Grizzlies zone on the PP
Cole Huggins
and Michael Stilidias would keep their teams in it and Huggins pulled off a
superb save on what could have been an excellent scoring chance, after Stefan Nicholishen came
out of the penalty box and was one on one with the Express netminder. It would remain
2-2 at the end of the second.
3rd Period – Would be marred by “that call “.
It’s a shame, as both teams had chances with Myles Powell coming close for the
Grizzlies and Coquitlam’s Georgeson with a nice shot which made Stilidias pull
off a great save. This game should have gone into OT which would have let both
teams duke it out for points at that point. That should have been the end to this
game. Not to end it with a soft call
that both refs missed on minimal contact involving both players that the
linesman only had an adequate view of. Common sense should have prevailed but didn’t.
One the ensuing
power play the Express would score with a Callum Hoffard goal to break Grizzlie
hearts and give Coquitlam a 3-2 victory.
Stand Outs Grizzlies:
Myles Powell – Continues to improve and looks
like he could become a lot more of a
factor on this team with more ice time. Powell, is playing with a lot of
confidence and with his speed and touch, should become more of an asset to this
team.
Dante Hahn – Great positioning, good skater and
can create and score. Hahn, is a smart hockey player and see the ice very well.
DJ Jones – Seems to drive the team at times
and really has defenders on the heels when he leads the charge up ice. Is sound
in his own zone. Could be one of the best defenders to ever suit up for the
Grizzlies if this continues.
Blake Thompson – Consistent and another defenseman
who plays both ends of the ice well.
Power plays – Grizzlies 1 for 1 and the Express 1
for 2
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