Walker Gelbard scored the decisive goal in the shootout to give the Langley Rivermen a 7-6 win over the Coquitlam Express Monday (Feb. 21) at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
Gelbard and teammate Chase Sandhu both scored on Express goalie Adam Manji after the teams remained tied 6-6 at the conclusion of a five-minute overtime period.
Ray Hamlin was the only Coquitlam player to get the puck past Rivermen keeper Jameson Kaine in the shootout.
It was a wild night of unrestrained offence for teams more than 30 points apart in the BC Hockey League’s Coastal division. The Rivermen has already claimed its place in the playoffs with a month still to be played in the regular season, while Coquitlam is in a royal rumble with the Powell River Kings and Cowichan Valley Capitals for the division’s last spot in the post season.
After Langley and the Express exchanged a pair of goals each in the first period, Coquitlam’s Mirko Buttazzoni and Ray Hamlin scored in the second to put the home team in front 4-2 heading into the final frame.
Josh Wessels got the visitors to within a goal seven minutes after the break, but Ian Devlin restored Coquitlam’s advantage just 20 seconds later.
Less than half a minute later, former Express Tyler Schleppe scored for the Rivermen, sparking a three-goal outburst that put Langley in front 6-5.
But the Express assured itself of a point when Hamlin got his team back on even terms, scoring a power play goal with 3:48 left in the third period. He finished the night with two goals and an assist to lead all Coquitlam scorers.
Neither team managed to score in the five-minute overtime, although Coquitlam outshot the visitors, 4-2. On the night, though, it was the Rivermen who had the shot advantage, directing 51 at Manji while the Express fired 40 on Kaine.
The loss was Coquitlam’s fourth in six games, while Langley has now won four in a row.
The Express host Victoria on Saturday, 7 p.m., at Poirier.
The game will feature special Score for Cancer promotions to help left winger Ryan Tattle achieve his goal of raising $50,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.
The veteran from Port Moody launched his effort at the beginning of the season, collecting pledges for every point he scores.
The two he collected Monday boost his total to 42 in 40 games and the donations beyond $45,000.
