Overtime is so far a winning proposition for the Grandview Steelers.
The Pacific Junior B Hockey League club has twice gone into the den of the Richmond Sockeyes and emerged victorious, taking a 2-1 lead in their quarter-final playoff series.
On Monday, Mateo Coltellaro provided the heroics just 1:07 into the extra frame to put the Steelers in the driver’s seat – again.
Grandview head coach Stevan Matic expects the series, however, to be far from done.
“It feels good for our guys to get ahead,” said Matic, prior to Wednesday’s Game 4 – played after the NOW’s deadline. “Our offence has had its share of cold spells during the season, but we felt that we were generating puck movement and chances and that sooner than later we’d start get on a roll.”
So far, the roll has gone their way in a tight battle with the Sockeyes.
Despite a 15-point gap during the regular season, Grandview has emerged as the pacesetter in all three games, leading after 20 minutes each time.
On Monday, Tristyn Olson and Tomislav Zlomislic sandwiched goals around Richmond’s Craig Schouten, with Zlomislic’s coming with time winding down. Schouten tallied the equalizer in the second period, setting the stage for Coltellaro’s marker.
“It was a great job by our top line, they got right on the attack and a great effort (by Coltellaro) to finish it,” said Matic.
Of course, none of it would have happened had Steelers’ netminder Cale Dolan not stood on his head, turning aside 41 shots.
In Game 2, Grandview held a 2-1 advantage with six minutes remaining, before the Sockeyes sniped four quick goals, including two into an empty net.
In the opening game, the Steelers were leading 4-2 with 20 minutes left to play before Richmond forced the issue, scoring twice to send it into overtime. In the second extra period, Connor Alderson gave Grandview the victory on a set-up from Jarod Yau.
Matic said it’s imperative that the squad’s powerplay starts clicking, especially with the Sockeyes staking out a physical brand of game.
“We’ve got to take care of it on home ice, and we’ve got to make use of our powerplay opportunities,” he said. “Richmond is playing a physical game, which we didn’t see during the regular season. It’s very exciting hockey and you see teams go on a five-minute surge.”
The series continues on Thursday (tonight), 7 p.m. in Richmond, and will return on Sunday for Game 6, if necessary, 7:15 pm. at the Burnaby Winter Club.
