Three goals scored in just over a six-minute span of the second period was enough to give the Chilliwack Chiefs a 3-2 win over the Coquitlam Express Friday at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
Coquitlam’s loss leaves the Express four points ahead of the Chiefs and two points up on the Victoria Grizzlies in the battle for third place in the BC Hockey League's Coastal division standings.
The Express has played one more game, but both the Grizzlies and Chiefs will make that up tonight before the league takes a break until Jan. 25 for its all-star festivities in Penticton next weekend.
A power play goal by Mirko Buttazzoni gave Coquitlam a 1-0 lead 7:46 into the second period. But it lasted less than four minutes before Mason Kesselring got Chilliwack back on even terms, also with a man advantage.
That was followed in short order with goals by Brian Morse and Sasha Teleguine to put the Chiefs ahead 3-1 heading into the second intermission,
A power pay goal by Cameron Moger got the Express back to within a goal with 4:55 left in regulation time, but Coquitlam couldn’t muster the equalizer.
Chilliwack’s win evens the series between the two rivals. Each has three victories. They’ll face each other next on Jan. 29 at the Chilliwack Coliseum then one more time on Feb. 8 at Poirier.
Coquitlam had just 17 shots on Chief’s goalie Lucas Szyszka while Express goalie Adam Manji stopped 28 of the 31 shots he faced.
The Express don’t play now until Jan. 27, when they host the Cowichan Valley Capitals. But two of the team’s players won’t be idle as Buttazzoni and forward Mateo Dixon head to Penticton for the league’s all-star weekend.
