Langley’s Tanner Versluis scored the game winner with 1:23 left in regulation to give the Rivermen a 3-2 victory over the Coquitlam Express Friday at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex.
The win leaves the Express just seven points ahead of Langley in the battle for third place in the BC Hockey League’s Mainland Division. The Rivermen have a game in hand.
Versus’ goal came on a power play, as Coquitlam’s Pito Walton served a minor penalty for closing his hand on the puck.
The Express opened up a 2-0 lead in the first period. Regan Kimens, the league’s reigning player of the week, and Dallas Farrell scored Coquitlam’s goals.
Langley got one of those back in the second period and then tied it 12:22 into the third period.
Kolby Matthews made 23 saves in Coquitlam’s net, while the Express fired 27 shots at Langley keeper Braedon Fleming.
The loss was just the second in Coquitlam’s extended six-game homestead that’s now over. The team now embarks on four road games to end the month of January. The first of those is Saturday night against the Rivermen at the George Preston Arena.
