Despite firing 40 shots on net as a team, BCHL Rookie of the Year nominee Hayden Russell had the lone goal for the Cowichan Valley Capitals in a 4-1 loss to open Round 2 of the playoffs at the Cowichan Arena on Friday, April 18.
Victoria scored twice in the first and once each in the second and third to steal the Game 1 victory and head into Game 2 the following night with all the momentum.
It was Luca Primerano who opened the scoring on Saturday night at the Cowichan Arena, starting the Caps off on the right foot at the 8:30 mark of the first period. Victoria's Alex Hebblethwaite retaliated with about six minutes left to play in what would be a three-goal night for the Grizzlies forward to send the teams into the first intermission knotted at one.
A quick goal from Hebblethwaite put the visitors up by one early in the second but Carter Dekay and Jack McAra scored their first and second playoff goals respectively to push Cowichan ahead 3-2 after two.
Victoria struck again in the third with two goals to take a 4-3 lead but as the clock neared the final minute of play Cowichan's Jake Gutwirth picked a fine time to score his first career playoff goal and force overtime in front of the nearly 1,300 fans in the rink.
It took nearly 13 minutes of extra time to determine a winner and unfortunately for Caps fans, it wasn't Cowichan. Hebblethwaite scored his hat-trick goal to give Victoria a 2-0 series lead going into Games 3 and 4 at the Q Centre Tuesday, April 22 and Wednesday, April 23.
"We need to defend better and stay disciplined," said Cowichan head coach Cam Keith. "Eight goals against in two games is impossible to win, especially with how well their goalie is playing."
Victoria netminder Oliver Auyeung-Ashton stopped 79 of 84 shots on goal during the first two games of the series and sports a 2.56 GAA through five playoff games.
Known for their scoring, Cowichan hopes to up their pressure on Victoria's last line of defence.
"Going on the road down 0-2 is not ideal but the series can change quickly," Keith added. "Hopefully we can find our game on the road."
