Massimo Rizzo scored twice, including the game winner, to lead the Coquitlam Express to a 5-4 win over the Langley Rivermen, Wednesday in Langley.
The Express now move on to the second round of the BC Hockey League playoffs after sweeping the Rivermen from their best-of-seven series in four straight.
Coquitlam will play the winner of the series between the Chilliwack Chiefs and the Surrey Eagles. Their series is tied, 2-2.
After a quiet first period in which the Express scored the only goal, by Connor Gregga, the teams went on an offensive spree in the second frame, netting six goals between them. When the snow settled, Coquitlam was ahead, 4-3.
Rizzo, Ethan O’Rourke and Steven Bellini scored for the visitors, while Sean Bunting, Ryan Helliwell and Tanner Versluis countered for the home team.
Rizzo’s winner came midway through the third period after he corralled a loose puck, broke in two-on-one with Drew Cooper and ripped a shot past Jonathan Mor in the Langley net.
And while Helliwell got the Rivermen back within a goal just over two minutes later, Langley couldn’t get the equalizer.
Jack Watson made 23 saves in Coquitlam’s net, while Mor faced 33 shots for the Rivermen.
