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PHOTOS: Third period letdown costs Coquitlam Express third straight loss

The Coquitlam Express gave up a pair of unanswered goals in the third period to drop a third straight game, 5-3, to the Powell River Kings on Monday.

A pair of goals by the Powell River Kings in the third period proved the difference as the Coquitlam Express lost its third straight game in the BC Hockey League’s pod season, 5-3, Monday at the Scotia Barn in Burnaby.

Ben Raymond scored what proved to be the game winner for the Kings, 13:51 into the final frame, while Jacob Bonkowski put the puck into the empty Express net with 26 seconds left on the clock to provide insurance as Powell River beat Coquitlam for the second time in three meetings.

The Express opened the scoring 8:38 into the game when Danny Pearson beat Kings’ goalie Thomas Wardle, who played three games for Coquitlam in the 2019/’20 season.

Adam Santio tied it almost three minutes later before Keeton Oakley, who was picked up by the Express from the Langley Rivermen when the latter elected to sit out the five-week pod season, put Coquitlam back in front.

But goals by Nolan Krogfoss and Adamo Santia 40 seconds apart in the second period gave Powell River the lead for the first time until Coquitlam’s Christian MacDougall got the Express back on even terms during a power play as he poked the puck over the goal line behind Wardle off of a scramble.

Jaden Little took the loss in net for the Express, as he stopped 37 of the 41 shots he faced. Wardle made 33 saves to win his second game of the season, against two losses.

Ryan Tattle’s two assists led all scorers for Coquitlam, whose record falls to two wins, two losses and a pair of overtime setbacks.

The Express will get a chance to improve on that Wednesday, when they host the Surrey Eagles at the Scotia Barn.

It will be the fourth meetings of the two teams. Surrey’s won twice.