The Abbotsford Pilots are one win away from advancing to the second round of the Pacific Junior Hockey League playoffs.
The Pilots are up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, after a second straight double overtime win at home on Friday.
Mitchell Plevy potted the clutch winner at 3:37 of the second overtime to seal the win for Abbotsford, but just like every game in the series so far, it wasn’t easy.
The Kodiaks came out strong in the first period, building up a 2-0 lead, and the Pilots knew they were in for a long night, said captain Joel Balzer.
“The mood was down after the first period and I think guys were frustrated with themselves,” he said. “It wasn’t like we had a really bad period, but we just made two really bad plays and they capitalized.”
“They came at us hard,” said Pilots head coach Jim Cowden. “They’re a good team, and we knew we had to battle to win. They were up on us 2-0, but at the end of the day I think we’re a good enough club, and we just had to relax and not force things. We did a better job of that in the second.”
The Pilots turned it on the second, dominating play and scoring three unanswered goals. Balzer got the Pilots on the board at 10:30, and Philip Gauthier tied the game, with 5:53 left in the second. Plevy gave the Pilots the 3-2 lead late in the second to give Abbotsford its first lead.
“Guys started skating and moving the puck in the second,” Balzer said. “Guys were playing as individuals in the first, but once we start moving the puck, I think we have enough speed on this team to make guys look like pylons out there.”
Forward Francis Bamford scored a power play goal to make it 4-2 in the third, but the Kodiaks quickly answered. Sean Olson added another power play goal to make it 5-3, but the Kodiaks refused to give up. They scored two goals in the final two minutes to send the game to overtime.
Nothing was settled in the first 10-minute period, and then Plevy sealed the deal in the second extra frame.
Cowden noted that the Kodiaks had a 3-1 lead on the Pilots last year, only to have them come back and force a seventh game.
“They’re a good hockey club. We have our work cut out for us,” he said.
Balzer said he likes the way he and his teammates look early into the Pacific Junior Hockey League playoffs.
“I’m feeling really confident about our guys,” he said. “But we need to start off our games better. We came out flat at the start of the last two games and they capitalized.”
Game four on Sunday saw the Pilots come out strong, but finish poorly. Alexander Methorst scored the game’s opening goal, but the Kodiaks scored three unanswered goals to win their first game this postseason.
The Pilots managed only 25 shots in the loss, and went zero for four on the power play.
UPDATE: Game five occurred on Tuesday in Abbotsford, with the Kodiaks staying alive by posting a 5-2 win. Plevy and Guilderson scored goals for Abbotsford. Game six occurs tonight (Wednesday) in Aldergrove at 7:15 p.m. Game seven, if necessary, goes down on Friday in Abbotsford. Face-off is set for 7:30 p.m.