The Chilliwack Chiefs scored three unanswered goals in the third period to pull away from the Coquitlam Express en route to a 7-2 win in their BC Hockey League game Saturday in Chilliwack.
After entering the final frame with a 4-2, the Chiefs prevented the Express from getting a shot on goal through the first half of the period then scored three times in the last 10 minutes.
Coquitlam, coming off a 7-4 win over the Surrey Eagles the night before, opened the scoring 5:38 into the first period when Ray Hamlin ripped a bullet past Chiefs’ goalie Grant Riley.
Chilliwack replied less the four minutes later with a pair of goals 39 seconds apart then extended that advantage to 4-1 with two more in the second period.
Arlo Merritt’s second goal of the season off a faceoff at 14:53 got the margin back to 4-2, but that was as good as it got. for the Express
Adam Manji faced 44 shots in Coquitlam’s net, while his teammate fired 30 at Riley, although only two of those were in the third period.
The Express will have a chance at redemption when the two teams meet again for Coquitlam’s regular season home opener on Friday, Oct. 15. Game time is 7 p.m. the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex. Vaccine passports are required for admittance and masks must be worn.
