Entering the final minute of play in Wednesday’s playoff tilt, the Grandview Steelers knew they just had to hang on and get it to overtime.
Stuck shorthanded after an errant puck flew over the glass with just a little more than two minutes to play, the Steelers faced a fiery Richmond Sockeyes powerplay.
And stared them down they did -- until with 12 seconds left in the third and a failed clearing attempt put the puck at the point, ending with Richmond tallying for a 2-1 win in the quarterfinal opener.
It’s just how these two teams fly, apparently. During the regular season, four of their six games were decided by a goal.
The two teams met yesterday (Thursday) in Game 3. The series continues Saturday in Richmond, then returns to the Burnaby Winter Club on Sunday, 4 p.m., for Game 4.
“It was a tough way to lose it, for sure,” said Grandview coach Aldo Bruno. “I thought the (delay of game) penalty was questionable, but we did an okay job of killing it but just couldn’t clear it that last time.”
Richmond had taken its first lead on another powerplay opportunity in the second period, as the Steelers were shorthanded seven times.
Adam Rota’s marker with seven minutes to play in the third put them on equal footing, in a game where the visiting Sockeyes out-shot and out-chanced the home team.
Netminder Cole MacInnes played well in keeping Richmond to no goals at even strength, while the Steelers’ offence struggled to generate enough quality scoring chances.
“At times we tried to get too cute. We just have to get our feet moving and get pucks to the net quicker,” said Bruno. “We definitely need to generate more scoring chances.”
Better discipline is vital, said Bruno.
During the regular season, Grandview won the series 4-1, with three of those victories coming in overtime and on Richmond ice.
The series continues Feb. 24 in Burnaby, if necessary.
