After giving up an early power play goal, the Coquitlam Express scored four straight to defeat the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 4-1 Wednesday (Dec. 14) at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
The win avenges Coquitlam’s 4-0 setback to the Bulldogs last Saturday (Dec. 10) in Port Alberni.
The visitors from Vancouver Island opened the scoring 3:19 when Will Elger beat Express goalie Adam Manji just six seconds after Coquitlam’s Ray Hamlin was assessed a minor penalty for hooking.
But the advantage lasted just two-and-a-half minutes as Emmett McHardy’s fifth goal of the season got the Express back on even terms. They never looked back.
Tyler Kopff put the home team up 2-1 at 8:16, also on a power play, then Ethan Rosenoff and Drew Garzone scored in the third to ice the victory.
McHardy added an assist to his goal to lead all Express scorers while Manji made 34 saves to earn his 10th win of the season.
Coquitlam fired 36 shots at Bulldogs’ goalie Hobie Hedquist.
The Express travel to Chilliwack to play the Chiefs Friday before closing out its schedule of games before the BC Hockey League takes its annual Christmas break with a game against the Surrey Eagles Saturday, 6 p.m., at Poirier.
