The Coquitlam Express scored three unanswered goals in the third period to sink the Nanaimo Clippers 5-2, Sunday afternoon at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex.
But the win wasn’t enough to keep the Express even with the Chiilwack Chiefs atop the BC Hockey’s League’s Mainland Division. The Chiefs bounced back from their 5-1 loss the Express last Friday to win both their remaining weekend games and they now have 22 points in 15 games, while the Express are two points back. They’ve also played 15 games.
Coquitlam led 1-0 after the first period after Chase Danol scored his eighth goal of the season.
Nanaimo tied it seven minutes into the second period but Dallas Farrell restored the Express’s advantage 2:40 later.
But Nanaimo drew even again late in the frame when Gunnar Wegleitner beat Coquitlam keeper Clay Stevenson on the power play with just 48 seconds until the intermission.
The Express took command of the game early in the third with two goals in the period’s first five minutes. Jordan Schulting’s first goal of the season proved to be the winner, then Connor Gregga added some insurance less than two minutes later. Christian Sanda salted Coquitlam’s tenth win of the season when he scored on a power play as Nanaimo’s Nicholas Wilson served a two-minute minor for goalie interference after crashing into Stevenson in the crease.
Stevenson stopped 23 of the 25 shots he faced while his teammates fired 38 shots at Clippers keeper Jordan Naylor.
The Express continue their four-game home stand with a pair of games against the Prince George Spruce Kings next Friday and Sunday.
