Express down Grizz in 3OT to move on to BCHL Finals
Friday, April 4, 2014 – Submitted by BCHL Media
The Coquitlam Express are going to the BCHL Finals for the first time since 2006 after a 4-3 road win in triple overtime over the Victoria Grizzlies.
Daniell Lange, on one of the few shifts he received in overtime, deflected home a Marc Biega wrister to win it for the Express. Coquitlam will face Vernon in the Finals.
Express captain Ryan Rosenthal put the game into overtime when he scored the equalizer with 59 seconds to go in regulation.
Gerry Fitzgerald opened the scoring and Myles Fitzgerald made it 2-1 after one after Marc Biega scored for Coquitlam. Canon Pieper equalized for Coquitlam in the second and after Leo Fitzgerald had put the Grizz ahead in the third, it was Rosenthal's late tally that evened things again.
In the first OT session, Coquitlam killed a five-minute Grizz power play and Victoria's Alec Dillon stopped Canon Pieper on a penalty shot as well.
This was the longest game in Express franchise history, surpassing a game against Langley from the 2007 playoffs.
Coquitlam wound up 2-1 in the round-robin. Victoria was 0-3.
The Express will take on the Vernon Vipers in the Fred Page Cup Finals. Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 will be April 11, 12, 17 and 20 in Vernon. Games 3, 4, and 6 go April 14, 15 and 19 in Coquitlam.
