The Coquitlam Express had a happy Halloween.
The BCHL club posted back-to-back victories on the weekend during a home-and-home against the Langley Rivermen, the first time the struggling Coquitlam team has had more than one win in a row since the season began.
On Friday, Corey Mackin showed why he is the league-leading goal getter, potting three markers and adding two helpers in the match. He added another goal and an assist the second night in Langley, putting him second behind West Kelowna's Liam Blackburn for total points in the league so far this season.
Fans at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex were treated to a high-scoring affair on Halloween.
The Rivermen opened the scoring with a goal from Marcus Vela, before Mackin got his first of the night on a pass from Daniel Fritz.
Langley's Kevan Kilistoff made it 2-1 for the visitors on the power play before the first period ended.
However, the Express came on hard in the second.
Forward Brett Supinksi, who also had a strong game and was named second star of the night after Mackin, tied the game 42 seconds into the period.
The Rivermen's Colton Kehler re-took the lead with a goal, but Supinski quickly tied things up and teammate Cody Boyd helped his club to a lead with a power play goal with 1:30 left in the second.
Both clubs exchanged goals in the third- Langley's coming from Mathew Graham and Kilistoff and Coquitlam's coming from Daniel Fritz and Mackin - but the Express remained in the driver's seat for most of the last period.
Mackin sealed the hat trick with an empty netter with 1:20 left before the buzzer sounded.
The venue was different but the result was the same 24 hours later when Coquitlam sank the Rivermen 4-2 at the Langley Events Centre.
Jivan Sidhu opened the scoring for Coquitlam on the power play before Mackin made it 2-0 on a pass from Supinski.
Supinski, who was the first star of the game, scored his 15th of the season early in the second period to make it 3-0, but Langley was able to get on the board with a goal from Gage Torrel on the power play.
Langley's Matthew Graham brought the game to within one goal, but Express forward Jackson Cressey stamped out any hope of a comeback for the Rivermen with an empty net goal with a minute left in the game.
With the wins, Coquitlam is now out of the Mainland Division basement, three points ahead of Surrey and four points back from Langley.
The club will host Salmon Arm on Wednesday at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex before the Surrey Eagles visit on Friday.
For more information go to www.coquitlamexpress.ca.
