It's now or never.
The Grandview Steelers sit with their back to the wall with no margin for error entering tonight's (Wednesday) Game 4 of their best-of-seven Pacific Junior B Hockey League semifinal playoff series with the Delta Ice Hawks.
With Tuesday's 6-3 loss in Delta, Grandview trails in the series 3-0 and sit on the brink of elimination.
It didn't look so dire after 25 minutes of play last night in Ladner. While Delta scored first, the Steelers corraled the lead with a pair of goals in the first period -- off the sticks of Adam Rota and Jeffrey Wong. When Cole MacEwen upped Grandview's lead to 3-1 just 4:33 into the second frame, things were looking positive for the visitors to get their first win of the season.
But the Ice Hawks, who took first place in the regular season due to more wins despite tying in points, ripped five unanswered goals to take control of the game and put the Steelers' season in peril.
Gary Dhaliwal's tally with 2:20 remaining in the second proved to be the game-winner, while Delta iced it with a pair of markers in the third period.
In Game 2, offence proved to be the main obstacle for the Steelers as they fell 3-2 on Sunday, generating only 13 shots on net over 60 minutes.
Looking to rebound from a rough 4-1 setback in the series opener last week, the Steelers found themselves trailing most of the night, as Delta took the lead just 1:38 into the contest.
Grandview tied it when affiliate player Bryson Wong, a Burnaby product, scored at 18:16 of the first, but in the second period, Dhaliwal restored the Ice Hawks’ lead with 2:19 left in the frame. Early in the third period, they upped it to 3-1. Jeffrey Wong counted Grandview’s other goal.
The Steelers managed just four shots over the final 20 minutes and just 13 in the game.
Tonight's must-win Game 4 is at 7:15 p.m. at the Burnaby Winter Club. If Grandview wins, Game 5 goes Friday in Ladner, and a sixth game, if necessary, Sunday, 4 p.m. at BWC.
