The Semi-finals are set that features the Delta Ice Hawks playing the Sockeyes in the best of seven series that has the winner advance to the league finals which are set to be determined.
Regardless of the season standings this game saw Payton Hu get Delta on the board while on the PP at 1:52 of the opening period which was followed up with Rajun Parmar (6) getting the game even with Declan Warburton put Delta up at with Justin McKnight tying the game at 17:27
The second was more tentative with both having chances with Nickolas Noren (3) putting Richmond up only to have Delta’s Mateo Sjoberg pull Delta even which was short-lived with McKnight giving Richmond a 4-3 lead after two with discipline playing a key role.
The third saw Delta press getting a pair with Noah Stenvig who replaced Thomas Popa in the middle period while the Sockeyes put three behind Zach Shaughnessy taking game one of the series with a 7-5 win.
Game two was the following night in Ladner with Sockeyes Nicholas Noren (5) opening the scoring with a short-handed marker taking a 1-0 after one that saw Austin Kofler (2) even the game in the dying minute of the second.
This game was more of a disciplined game with the teams each trading four penalties after two in a contest that saw Delta dominate the third stealing four goals with a 5-1 win with Delta getting three goals in four minutes.
Wednesday was a day off with the series resuming Thursday in Richmond in a game that would require O/T to determine a winner in a contest that was more like a roller coaster ride.
Delta jumped out to a 3-0 lead after twenty minutes in a period that saw Thomas Popa replaced after the first with Stenvig playing the remainder of the game.
The second for the most part all Richmond with them managing six unanswered goals, two being short handed and one on the PP.
Late in the period Delta collected a pair on the PP that saw the period end with Richmond up 6-5 outshooting Delta by a 30-26 margin in a period that had a variety of penalties.
Delta pressed and eventually got the tying goal at 4:24 in a more disciplined period that would see the game head to O/T to the dismay of many fans with no one leaving.
After a brief break Sockeyes Zach Zapanta sent one to the point that saw Justin McKnight drill a bullet that was tipped in by Justin Grant who was out front giving the Sockeyes the 7-6 win and a 2-1 series lead heading to game four in Delta.
Game four of any series is normally the pivotal game of any series that would either see the series tied or one team leading 3-1 in the series.
The start to this contest was no different from the previous game saw Delta jump out to a 2-0 lead after one with Delta Ryden Mathieson (3) and former Dawson Toledo (1) bringing the home town fans to their feet.
To the shock of Delta fans, Sockeyes Teo Lin got them on the board eight seconds in the middle period to the disbelief of Delta wondering what happened as they continued to press only to be turned aside by the stellar play of Noah Stenvig.
Richmond’s game plan in the third was obviously to play fast, aggressive while stopping Delta’s potent aggressive attack which for the most part worked only to have Richmond grab a pair of short handed goals seventeen seconds apart.
Speedy Teo Lin set up Nicholas Noren on both markers with his first at 8:34 followed by the second at 8:51 a short seventeen seconds later that saw Delta unable to reply in a game that is a must win for Delta in Richmond.
Delta’s season rests on Thursday’s game four and with the Sockeyes looking to advance to the league finals knowing that Delta will be focused and motivated to keep the series alive.
The four games had Delta outshooting Richmond by 153 to 132 with Delta getting two goals on nineteen chances while Richmond managed one goal on twelve PP chances with special teams being non effective.
Game five is a 7 pm start at Richmond’s Minoru Arena so make plans to come out and cheer on your RICHMOND SOCKEYES.
