Three unanswered goals in the second period proved the difference as the Chilliwack Chiefs beat the Coquitlam Express in the first game of their best-of-seven BC Hockey League (BCHL) opening round playoff series.
The final score was 4-1 on Friday (March 31) at the at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
After a scoreless first period, Mateo Dixon put the visitors up 1-0 after just 10 seconds had been played in the second frame when he pounced on the puck after Coquitlam goaltender Brady Smith whiffed an attempt to clear it up ice.
A pair of power play goals increased Chilliwack’s advantage to 3-0 heading into the third period.
Evan Brown got one back for the home team 2:35 after the break.
But that was as close as the Express would get as AJ Lacroix sealed the Chiefs’ victory with an empty net goal at 18:42.
Smith stopped 20 shots in Coquitlam’s net, while his teammates directed 33 shots at Chilliwack goalie Austin McNicholas.
Game two of the series goes Saturday (April 1), 7 p.m., also at Poirier.
