Wins in any sport come and go, but being down in any series by a 2-0 deficit when the opponent stole both games on home ice has one pondering what your team has to do to get back in the series?
It’s easy to judge but when you reflect on the Delta current roster the team has played exceptional hockey, with the odd hiccup in the oppositions barn.
True – Delta did drop the first two games of the series in what many thought would be a split in Aldergrove, but the Kodiaks had other ideas and stuck to their game plan.
Prior to game three I had the chance to “chat” with some of the players and they seemed “loose and not so up tight” for game three, but the Kodiaks dressing room was far more relaxed.
Captain Cuthbert mentioned “the pressure is clearly on the home team 
and the Kodiak’s know this and we are expecting they will do everything to take us off our game.”
It should be interesting to note that throughout the season the clubs played each other only three times, with the Kodiak’s taking three of the four games outscoring Delta by a 17-11 margin.
Both clubs started the same “tenders” that have played the entire series to date, with the exception of the “cup of coffee” that Anderson had in the last two minutes in game two, which he played exceptional making several key stops.
The Kodiaks managed to “rattle” Delta grabbing the first goal at 4:52 of the opening period with helpers coming from Schroeder and Leroux, putting Delta in a look disbelief.
Delta continued to press and with the puck taking a bounce at the right side of the net Kodiak’s “tender” Dawson Rodin attempted to clear the puck sending it on the stick of Trotman who made no mistake tying the game at one at 11:46.
While both teams played tentative in the first the teams not only traded goals, but also penalties with the Kodiak’s taking two minors in the first ten minutes of the opening period, while Delta’s Rhyu was tagged for tripping at 2:16.
While the first was anything but tentative the Kodiak’s out shot Delta by a narrow 8-7 margin after one and if one thing that stood out, it was the fact that the Kodiak’s were ‘baiting” Delta after any stoppage of play.
The second started with the Kodiak’s (again) “chipping” away at Delta any chance they had managing to out shoot Delta by a 16-11 margin through two allowing Rodin to see any shots he faced.
The Kodiak’s gave Delta a chance to take the lead when Leroux was sent off 15 second in taking down Trotman for hooking which some consider a “lazy” penalty to take – unless it takes away a scoring opportunity!!
With Delta pressing they managed to hammer a shot 21 seconds in the PP from the point with Wideski thinking he had a goal, only to be called ‘no-goal” by the referee.
Try as they might the PP was short lived as Wideski was send off 39 seconds later for tripping, but interesting enough, neither team capitalized on any chance they had.
With the game tied at one, Kodiak’s Chase Manderville playing in only his 5th playoff game put the Kodiak’s up by a 2-1 margin at 10:40 from a long shot from the right point after being set up by Davitt.
The second saw both clubs trade three minors with the only difference being that the Kodiak’s capitalized on one opportunity.
For the most part Eric Callegari has been held off the score sheet, but on this night he managed to get a pair of goals 2:41 apart giving the Kodiak’s a commanding 3-1 lead after two, one on the PP at 13:55, followed by the second at 16:36.
While some might question the Broadcaster’s point of view in pulling Naylor 
for the remainder of the period, it was by no means a reflection of his play, but more of a manner in which to re-set the focus of the team.
While both teams had several chance, Naylor was tested with more quality shots facing 24 through two, while Rodin was tested with 18, but the saving grace of the period was the play of Naylor.
Delta headed to the dressing room trailing by a 4-1 margin with a look of concern, pondering how to penetrate both the offense and defence for Aldergrove.
One stat that stood out was that Cuthbert has the most shots thus far for Delta, and while the Kodiak’s have played 54 games they have won 45 throughout the season for a winning % of 54,
With Delta entering the third trailing by two, they started with more jump and more urgency in all zones attacking the net and capitalizing on any and all rebounds.
The third saw Delta’s bench boss replace Jordan Naylor, putting in Cooper Anderson for what would be the remaining 20 minutes of play, pending possible O/T.
While the first part of the third started with both teams getting several chances, they also traded penalties at the midpoint of the period forcing both tenders to make huge saves.
The jump eventually paid dividends for Delta as Kodiak’s Poitras was in the “sin-bin” for slashing putting Delta on the PP at 10:40.
Delta managed to get within one making it a 3-2 game on the PP at 11:50 with Padgham in the box for Slashing, who was clearly a “thorn” for Delta all game.
Try as they might the Kodiak’s managed to keep Delta to the outside forcing them to take what some might call “poor quality” shots minimizing them to very few directly on goal.
The best shot or chance of the period came off the stick of Deyrmenjian at 13:55 with Rodin somehow making a huge stop sliding from side to side keeping the Kodiaks ahead.
Delta’s “D” forced Anderson to make a remarkable stop at the 14 minute mark with a give-away as Delta came out from behind the net up the middle.
Delta was fortunate to go on a two man advantage with 1:37 in the first minor and a full two minutes on the second giving Delta the opportunity to call a T/O.
Strange as it sound’s the officials were forced to sort out confusion with the game time clock where the situation arose that the clock failed to run for a period of time, but in rectifying the situation the officials.
While on the two man advantage Delta had chance after chance, but the Kodiaks somehow managed to get their sticks on the shots.
Delta’s Jordan Bogress got his second of the playoffs, putting Delta within two following a three-way passing play from Deymenjian and Cuthbert at 11:50 still being on the PP.
The second minor giving Delta the PP was short lived as Delta’s Cuthbert was tagged with a minor for Hooking which by all stretch of the imagination was a good penalty to take.
Padgham returned to the ice giving the Kodiak’s another PP chance that saw Anderson make two electrifying saves followed by a third shot that he was unable to stop.
As the third cme to a conclusion Cooper Anderson was forced to make several key stops keeping Delta within two.
Delta’s second goal gave them life and try as they might, it was clear that the Kodiak’s could sense victory playing in their own end of the ice, but with one final poor clearing play the puck deflected off the glove of Bodnaruk, Rodin was forced to make a remarkable stop.
Final remarks from Delta’s Cam Cuthbert had him mentioned that he “thought they weren’t ready to play and that the Kodiak’s were in their heads and heading to Friday’s game they have to play more disciplined for game four.”
Game stats showed shot attempts 65-34, while Anderson was square to the puck on all shots, clearly keeping Delta in the game.
Shots in the game saw both the Kodiak and Delta tie the game at 31, but for special teams Aldergrove was 2-5 (20%) while Delta was sitting at 14.3% ending up 1-7 through 60 minutes.
Game Stars:
1st Eric Callegari (2 goals/1 assist)
2nd Chase Manderville (1 goal/1 assist)
3rd Dawson Rodin (31 saves)
Penalties on the night saw Aldergrove take 8, while Delta managed 6.
While the Kodiak’s are looking at closing out the series Friday the Ice Hawks are focusing on extending the series and play the style of game that got them to this point in the playoffs.
While there are specific “keys” to pulling out a victory for Delta, two questions remains unanswered.
First which Delta team will show up and second who will start between the pipes.
Game four of the PJHL Final Championship takes place at the Ladner Leisure Center Friday March 24th at 7:30 pm
If you’re at the game stop by and visit with Greg and myself for the call of the game.
