For Delta entering the game this is a must win game or it’s golf tomorrow on one of the many local courses around the area, but knowing Delta the way I do – it’s all or nothing moving forward.

Taking to the ice the boy’s seem “loose” and are focused on the game at hand with one plan in mind and that’s playing at home for game six Tuesday at the Leisure Center for the fans on Delta TV and  surrounding area.

Both entered the game sending pucks at both starting tenders, namely Naylor and Rodin who were up for this contest in a way that’s hard to describe, but both wanted a win.

The first period saw the game start the same as the move “Fast and Furious” with the Kodiak’s notching the first at 3:09 with Schroeder coming out of the penalty box going in on Naylor with no one able to catch him putting the home town up by one.

While the first continued to be anyone’s game shots were  relatively close with Aldergrove maintaining the shot advantage by an impressive difference of 10-4, while missing on three quality attempts.

The second was more of a wide open affair with Delta coming out stronger pressing to get shots directed on Rodin, while trying their best to set up any possible screens while creating traffic at the same time.

It took a while, but Delta continued to press and replied with their first of the game while on the PP at 7:27 as Cuthbert dished one off to Rubin who in turn laid a tape to tape pass to Deyrmenjian wired one home from the top of the circle tying the game at one.

Continuing to play a strong game saw Bogress put Delta up by a 2-1 margin at 12:44 of the period to a shocked Kodiak’s bench as well as the sellout crowd.

Delta’s game plan was to direct any and all shots at Rodin, challenge for any rebound and cut off the lane should they get in the zone and on this night it worked in their favor.

Delta managed to play more aggressive at the same time out-shooting the Kodiak’s 11-7 in the second and 18-14 through two and were definitely the better squad in the second.

Aldergrove on the other hand were looking at having a trophy presentation on home ice and thus came out stronger and faster in the third peppering shot after shot on Naylor forcing him to go cross ice several times making some remarkable saves keeping Delta in the lead.

Playing aggressive means getting more traffic at the net as well as shots and in keeping with the game plan they managed to grab their third of the game with Rubin and Deymenjian setting up Dhaliwal for his 7th of the playoff at 3:32 with time working in their favor.

You could sense that the Kodiak’s were not going to roll over and simply give Delta the win and as aggressive as Delta played the Kodiak’s made them earn the win.

It might have taken a while but eventually Aldergrove pulled within one at 11:17 as Schroeder was sent in after taking a cross ice feed from Callegari and Leroux bringing the crowd to life.

While the first two periods tested Referee Campbell the third was a “cake walk” as neither team came close to taking any penalties, which made an easy night for Campbell and crew.

With Aldergrove pressing bench boss Naylor called a T/O to settle his team down and not get pressed into making any bad clearing passes which the Kodiak’s were alert to picking up on.

Following an icing with the face-off in Delta’s zone with barely a minute remaining the Kodak’s called a T/O to set up the ever dreaded game plan, which has worked in the past, but not on this night.

For the first time in the series we saw Delta sacrifice themselves on several shots keeping the win within reach turning several well timed shots aside and having bodies “limp” off the ice after doing so.

Try as they might Delta staved off elimination by an impressive 3-2 win while being out-shot 27-20 with the majority of Kodiak shots coming in both the first and third periods.

Game Stars;

1st Jordan Deymenjian (1 goal/1 assist)

2nd Clayton Schroeder (2 goals)

3rd Daniel Rubin (2 assists)

Delta live’s to play another day with the next game home game in Ladner at the Leisure Center Tuesday March 28th at 7:30 pm.

Through the five games played to date the Kodiak’s have out shot Delta by a 19-15 margin, with both clubs needing more work on special teams.

In post game conversation with Delta’s bench boss Darren Naylor he mentioned “he was pleased with the manner in which the team came out to play a full 60 minutes” and looks forward to game six Tuesday.