Three power play goals by the Chilliwack Chiefs proved to be the difference as the Coquitlam Express lost 4-1 to the visiting Chiefs Wednesday at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex.
In fact, the Chiefs were on their second power play of the game when they opened the scoring 11 minutes into the first period. Coquitlam defence man Devon Musio was serving a minor for interference when Chilliwack’s Tommy Lee beat Express net minder Reid Cooper who’d coughed up a rebound on Corey Andonovski’s one-timer from the slot.
The Chiefs outshot the Express 17-8 in the opening period.
Coquitlam found their legs after the intermission. They just couldn’t find the net, despite holding the edge on shots, 15-13. The closest they got to beating Chilliwack goalie Mathieu Caron was a shot by Eric Linell that squeezed through Caron’s pads but just rolled past the post.
It took the Chiefs only 17 seconds into the third period to score what proved to be the winning goal when Matt Slick converted a set up by Adonovski and Will Calverley.
William Lawrence’s first goal of the season got the Express right back into the game just two-and-a-half minutes later. Joshua Wildauer and Troy Robillard got the assists.
But again, a penalty cost them when Calverley put the Chiefs up 3-1 eight minutes into the period as Coquitlam’s Haydn Delorme was serving a double-minor for high sticking.
Chilliwack’s Regan Kimens rounded out the scoring with the Chief’s third power play goal of the night with just 17 seconds left on the clock.
Cooper had another strong game in the Express net, stopping 44 of the 48 shots he faced while his mates countered with 28 shots at Mathieu.
The Express host the Langley Rivermen Friday, at 7 p.m. and they’ll play a return game against the Chiefs on Saturday in Chilliwack.
