Devon Hascarl was the hero for the Revelstoke Grizzlies, scoring a short-handed goal in the second overtime to give the Grizzlies a 2-1 win over the Osoyoos Coyotes and tie the series at two Thursday night.
“I went down the far side and saw a spot, shot and I never got to see it go in, I got hit right after it,” said Hascarl. “I was a little bit shaken up but then everyone started hugging me, Freddy kissed me on the cheek a few times, it was great.”
Hascarl’s goal came 14 minutes into the second overtime of a tight, physical, back-and-forth contest in which Revelstoke needed a win in order to avoid returning to Osoyoos down 3-1 in the series.
“I think the guys wanted it more,” said assistant captain Brooks Christensen, who logged hug ice time centring the first line and also double-shifting on the third line. “Because the game goes on it means more and more to each guy.”
The game was scoreless for the first two periods, with Revelstoke outshooting Osoyoos 26-19. It was the Coyotes that got on the board first, with CJ Kort firing a wrist shot through a screen and past goaltender Tory Caldwell for a power play goal at 17:45 of the third period.
The goal held up until just past the midway point when Bruce Silvera deflected Adam Dibella’s point shot over Osoyoos goalie Kyle Laslo to tie the game.
The first overtime period solved nothing despite Revelstoke pushing hard for the full ten minutes. In the second overtime period the Coyotes had the edge in play for the first five minutes and Caldwell was called on to make several big saves including a glove save five minutes in and a lunging goal-line stop on a wrap-around attempt a few minutes later.
“The wraparound was just in desperation,” said Caldwell, who made 59 saves on the night. “I got beat to the other side so I just flailed my hand over there and luckily I got the puck.”
Then, Garrett Holt got called for a holding penalty. With the Grizzlies short-handed, the stage was set for Hascarl’s heroics. He received a clearing attempt along the boards at the blue line, broke down the ice on a two-on-one with Brad Friedrich and fired the shot past Laslo for the win.
“I’ve never even had a hockey game that long before,” said Hascarl. “That was the longest game and the biggest goal I ever scored.”
Game five takes place Saturday night in Osoyoos with the series tied 2-2.
“I think it’s probably where it’s supposed to be after four games, to be perfectly honest with you,” said head coach Rylan Ferster. “They played extremely well and we’re playing a pretty good team.”
Game 5 can be viewed online at www.kijhl.ca or you can go to the Last Drop, which will be showing all the Grizzlies away games on their tv screens.