A two-goal comeback in the third period by the Coquitlam Express was foiled by Mateo Mrsic’s power play goal 4:25 into overtime to give the Chilliwack Chiefs a 6-5 win in their BC Hockey League game, Friday at the Chilliwack Coliseum.
Riding a two-game winning streak coming into the game, the Express and Chiefs exchanged goals in the fist period — Aaron Davidson scoring for the home team, while Mirko Buttazzoni netted his eighth of the season for the visitors.
The Chiefs bolted ahead with a pair of goals early in the second period but Ray Hamlin and Mateo Dixon scored 13 seconds apart to get Coquitlam back on even terms.
Chilliwack restored its two-goal advantage on goals by Tim Delay and Brady Millburn.
The third period belonged to Gavin Giesebrecht, who scored twice, including the game-tying goal with just 16 seconds left in regulation time.
EXPRESS GOAL!! WITH 25 SECONDS REMAINING GIESBRECHT TIES THE GAME!! pic.twitter.com/cx6M30gNrc
— Coquitlam Express (@BCHLExpress) November 12, 2022
The overtime, however, was all Chiefs, which fired six shots at Coquitlam goalie Adam Manji until he was finally beaten by Mrsic as the Express were shorthanded because of a penalty for too many men on the ice.
The game was a chippy affair with a skirmish in the first period resulting in misconduct penalties to five players and another assessed to Coquitlam’s Cameron Moger after he was called for a blow to the head of a Chiefs player.
The loss ends Coquitlam’s short-lived winning streak, while Chilliwack won for the first time in four games.
Giesebrecht added an assist to this two goals. Dixon and Buttazzoni each scored a goal and two assists.
Manji made 28 saves. The Express fired 27 shots at Chiefs’ goalie Lucas Szyszka.
Coquitlam plays the Langley Rivermen in Langley on Saturday before the two teams meet again next Friday, 7 p.m., at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
