April 4, 2025. Victoria BC (ISN) – Thom Molson scored in overtime to lift his Victoria Grizzlies over the Coquitlam Express 4-3 in a game-one thriller of the BCHL playoffs at the Q Centre in Victoria to go up 1-0 in the series.
Both teams proved offensively wary in the first period in a tight checking twenty minutes of play, with neither team finding the advantage. Victoria would eclipse the Express by 15-14 shots on goal margin in the opening frame.
Molson would score his first of two goals on the evening at 3:46 of the second period on a chip shot at the net that beat Coquitlam goalie Andrew Ness to give Victoria the ice-breaker lead 1-0. The Grizzlies would look well in control of the game when Landon Mackie would score the Grizzlies second goal of the period to lead 2-0. Despite every Express effort, Victoria Grizzlies goalie Oliver Auyuen-Ashton would look confident in net to turn aside all 27 Coquitlam shots on net.
The Coquitlam Express, not to be denied a reply in the game, would score three unanswered goals in the third period to take a hold of the game. The Express would get scoring from Carson McGinley, and two goals by Nolan Flynn. Undisciplined play would see the Grizzlies play short almost have final period, committing 8 minutes in penalties, including back-to-back penalties that would put themselves 2 men shorthanded at one point to help Coquitlam climb back into the game and take the lead.
The Grizzlies’ Anderson (Chase) Pirtle would tie the game with 3:19 remaining on an even-strength goal to send the game to overtime.
Victoria would dominate the overtime after the troubled third frame, peppering Ness 12-6 in shots on goal. Molson would get his second goal of the game when he would streak behind the Express’s defence on a breakaway to net the puck behind goalie Ness for the game winner with 4:03 remaining in OT, giving the Grizzlies the series-opening victory.
Game two of the seven game series will take place Saturday at the Q-Centre. Puck drop is at 6pm.