Drew Garzone stole the puck at his own blue line and scored the winning goal in overtime on a solo breakaway to give the Coquitlam Express a 2-1 win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals, Saturday at the Poirier Sport and Recreation Complex.
OT Winner in Coquitlam! 🚨
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) February 4, 2024
Drew Garzone seals this one in the extra frame!
🎙️ @ianw1lson #BCHL | @BCHLExpress pic.twitter.com/VpnuYUeqDJ
It was the team’s second win over the Capitals in a week after a 6-5 victory on Jan. 26.
After a scoreless and penalty-filled first period in which both teams amassed a total of 12 minor infractions, Luke Avery scored on a power play 1:21 into the second period to give Cowichan a 1-0 lead.
It stayed that way until late in the third period when Coquitlam’s Matthew Frost shovelled home a rebound past a sprawling Capitals’ goalie Cody Butikis with just 1:31 left in regulation time.
Garzone also had an assist on the tying goal.
Express goalie Adam Manji made 36 saves to register his first win since Dec. 16.
Butkis faced 40 shots in Cowichan’s net.
The win provides a much-needed boost to Coquitlam coming off a 4-3 shootout lost Friday to the Trail Smoke Eaters after the team had battled back from a 3-1 deficit.
The Express will try to keep its momentum going when it plays the Surrey Eagles this afternoon at 4 p.m. at the South Surrey Arena.
