A pair of goals 84 seconds apart in the second period was all the Coquitlam Express needed to defeat the Vernon Vipers 2-1 Saturday at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
The win was Coquitlam’s third in a row and fifth of its last six games.
After spotting the Vipers a 1-0 lead with a power play goal midway through the second period, Evan Brown scored his first career goal in the BC Hockey League six minutes later to get the Express back on even terms.
Then, less than two minutes later, Gavin Giesbrecht took a pass from defensemen Jason Gallucci and ripped the puck over Vipers goalie Ethan David to put Coquitlam in front.
Neither team was able to score again.
Express goalie Brady Smith made 14 saves after he took over from starter Adam Manji who was forced to leave the game at the end of the first period with an undisclosed injury. He’d stopped all 11 shots he faced.
Coquitlam fired 31 shots at David.
The Express next play on Friday, when the team travels to the South Surrey Arena to face the second-place Surrey Eagles then returns to Poirier Saturday to host the Chilliwack Chiefs at 7 p.m.
