The Revelstoke Grizzlies find themselves facing elimination after losing back-to-back games by a 2-1 score against the Chase Heat on home ice.
The losses mean the Grizzlies are down 3-1 in the best of seven series, with the series returning to Chase for game five on Thursday.
Monday saw the teams greeted by a raucous, capacity crowd at the Revelstoke Forum.
The game started out with both teams tentative and unable to get much going. Chase got on the board first when Mason Palaga fired home a slap shot from the top of the left circle, beating Grizzlies’ goaltender Giovanni Sambrielaz with 8:13 left in the first period.
The goal sparked the Heat, who dominated the rest of the period and got a second goal when Jake Delorme snuck a screen shot past Sambrielaz while Chase was on the power play with only 1:21 to go in the first.
The Heat continued to dominate in the second period, outshooting Revelstoke 12-6, but they were unable to solve Sambrielaz.
The Grizzlies roared to life in the third period. After recording only 11 shots in the first two frames, they fired 16 shots on Chase netminder Nic Bruyere in the third. Despite their efforts and numerous chances, they were only able to beat him once when Ullar Wiatzka snapped home a loose puck in the slot with four minutes left to play.
Revelstoke continued to press but they failed to convert on a later power play and lost 2-1.
The teams were back at it on Tuesday in front of another sold out crowd at the Forum. Chase jumped out to an early lead when Ryan Okino beat Sambrielaz less than two minutes into the game.
Ullar Wiatzka tied the game for Revelstoke when he scored a power play goal early in the second period. Kolten Moore restored the Heat’s lead 12 minutes later with what wound up the game winning goal.
From then on, Chase held back the Grizzlies, limiting them to 10 shots in the third period. Revelstoke came close to tying the game with 10 seconds left but were unable to score on a scramble in front of the Chase net.
Game five is on Thursday, Mar. 2, in Chase. If Revelstoke wins, game six will be at the Forum on Friday night.
