The Olds Grizzlys forced a fifth and deciding game in their Alberta Junior Hockey League playoff series with the Okotoks Oilers on Sunday, securing a 4-2 victory at the Olds Sports Complex. The fifth game is due to be played tonight in Okotoks.
Grizzlys head coach Brett Hopfe said the key to the deciding game would be continuing to play hard and pressuring the Oilers at every opportunity.
"I think we just have to stick with the process. We've been talking about it from Game 1 Ö every game, every shift adds up and we're going to continue to hit 'em and continue to wear 'em down. We're very excited to play in a Game 5,î he said.
Despite being outshot in every period on Sunday, the Grizzlys never trailed in the game, taking a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes on a goal by Reid Wilson. In the second, Matthew Marcinew scored twice before Robbie Fisher got the Oilers on the board just past the midway mark of the second period.
After a goal by the Oilers' Chris Collins in the third, Marcinew got his hat trick goal with the Oilers net empty in the final second of the game. Marcinew's third of the night was preceded by two key defensive-zone faceoff wins by the Grizzlys' regular season scoring leader, while the Oilers were pressuring the Grizzlys net in the final minute.
"It was a big game for him Ö having struggled the first few games. Just being able to put the puck in the net is huge for him confidence-wise, It's nice for him to get some confidence rolling into Game 5. Those two big faceoffs were key for us at the end of the game,î Hopfe said.
The Grizzlys forced Game 5 after having defeated the Oilers 2-1 in Game 1 of the series March 6. The Oilers then won the next two games, 6-1 on March 7 and 6-5 March 9.
"I think we just have to stick with the process. We've been talking about it from Game 1 ... every game, every shift adds up and we're going to continue to hit'em and continue to wear'em down."Bret6 Hopfe, head coach, Olds Grizzlys
