Port Moody’s Ryan Tattle had a goal and two assists, and Adam Trotman had two goals, to lead the Coquitlam Express to a 6-3 win over the Merritt Centennials in their BC Hockey League game, Wednesday at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
It was Coquitlam’s third straight win on the team’s five-game homestand that concludes this weekend with games against Salmon Arm on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Alberni Valley on Sunday at 3 p.m.
Tattle opened the scoring 4:58 after the opening face off, when he shook off a hit in the neutral zone then sped past a Merritt defenceman and tucked the puck under Centennial goalie Marshall Trainer. It was the rookie's first goal in the BCHL.
Merritt, who are coached by former Express boss Barry Wolff, tied it then took the lead heading into the first intermission.
The second period belonged to Coquitlam. Trotman, Danny Pearson and Noah De La Durantaye all scored before the frame was seven minutes old to put the home team up 4-2. Two of the goals came on powerplays.
A goal by Greg Lapointe 9:31 into the third period increased Coquitlam’s advantage to 5-2, then Trotman’s second goal of the night answered a goal by Merritt’s Payton Matsui.
Clay Stevenson made 30 saves to earn his fourth win in the Express net in as many starts. His teammates fired 39 shots — their most so far this season — at Trainer.
Saturday's game against Salmon Arm could be Coquitlam's most serious test so far in the young season, as the Silverbacks are undefeated in six games. The Express have one loss in their six games.
PoMo’s Johnson gets player of the week honour
Port Moody’s Kent Johnson is the BCHL’s player of the week.
The second-year centreman for the Trail Smoke Eaters had 10 points in four games.
Johnson had five assists last Saturday, when the Smoke Eaters defeated West Kelowna, 5-1. He added two goals and an assist on Sunday in a 6-2 win at home over the Victoria Grizzlies.
In fact, the only game Johnson didn’t register a point was in a 3-1 loss to Wenatchee on Friday, after he got two helpers last Wednesday against the Powell River Kings.
Johnson now has 11 points on the season which puts him in third place amongst the league’s top scorers. Powell River’s Levi Glasman and Salmon Arm’s Noah Wakeford each have 12 points.
