The Coquitlam Express squandered a two-goal lead in the third period, then lost in a shootout, 4-3, to the Langley Rivermen, Saturday at the George Preston Arena in Langley.
It was the BC Hockey League team’s second straight setback after it had won five in a row.
Tyler Kopff opened the scoring 2:32 into the game with his fourth goal of the season, a rapier shot from the face-off circle past the outstretched leg of Rivermen goalie Ajeet Gundarah.
EXPRESS GOAL!! Kopff snipes it glove side to give us the early 1-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/UzD8J06GcF
— Coquitlam Express (@BCHLExpress) October 23, 2022
Langley’s Tyler Chan got the teams back on even terms six minutes later.
A pair of goals by Jake Manfre and Ian Devlin late in the second period put Coquitlam back in front, 3-1.
EXPRESS GOAL!! Jake Manfre converts on the power play for his 5th of the season and regains the lead! pic.twitter.com/WNFumxKlwc
— Coquitlam Express (@BCHLExpress) October 23, 2022
EXPRESS GOAL!! Devlin finds the loose puck for his 1st point of the season and extends the lead to 2! pic.twitter.com/qOjrsd6fm5
— Coquitlam Express (@BCHLExpress) October 23, 2022
Gavin Gijsbrecht had a chance to extend the lead even further 2:30 into the third period when he was awarded a penalty shot after being hooked on a breakaway, but he couldn’t beat Gundarah.
Langley then fought back, with two goals less than two minutes apart to send the teams to a five-minute overtime, but neither was able to score.
It took six rounds of the shootout before the Rivermen’s Nick Messina ripped the game-winner between Brady Smith’s legs.
Kopff had two assists in addition to his goal to lead all Coquitlam scorers while Smith faced 46 shots, the same amount his teammates fired at Gundarah.
The Express continues its month-long stretch of road games in Port Alberni on Friday against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
