The Coquitlam Express will not be making a repeat trip to the Fred Page Cup this season.
The club was ousted from the BCHL playoffs with a 4-2 loss to the Chilliwack Chiefs Monday night, ending the first-round in five games.
Coquitlam struggled throughout the best-of-seven series, losing by wide margins in the two early matches. However, on Friday the club bounced back with an exciting overtime win and appeared to be on the verge of turning things around. But it all came to an end on Monday night at Prospera Centre.
The Chiefs quickly jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first, with Scott Davidson scoring on the power play and Jake Hand picking up his fourth of the series.
Coquitlam got on the board in the second period with a marker from Brett Supinski, and Colton Kerfoot managed to find the back of the net on the power play in the third.
But it wasn't enough to overcome the Chiefs, who potted a goal of their own off the stick of Mason Boh and finished the game with an empty-netter to win 4-2.
Twenty-four hours earlier, Chilliwack put on a scoring clinic at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
The visitors scored five goals before the home team could get on the board with a marker from Jackson Cressey in the second period. Supinski also scored, but the game was over before the third period started, with the Chiefs leading 7-2 when the final buzzer sounded.
Friday night was probably the best outing for the Express, who notched their only win of the series in overtime.
Both teams exchanged goals in the first period, with the Chiefs' Rory Bell netting two assisted by Hand. But Supinski and Michael Merulla also scored and the game was tied at 2-2 going into the second period.
Coquitlam held its own in the middle frame, with Corey Mackin and Supinski scoring and the team briefly held the lead in the third period.
However, a late goal from Chilliwack forced overtime, where Coquitlam's Austin Anselmo potted the game winner with 6:22 left.
@GMcKennaTC
