With the playoff fate of the Coquitlam Express already decided, the Powell River Kings left the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex Sunday with its first victory over the home team in four meetings, 8-4.
The fourth place Express will host the fifth place Chilliwack Chiefs Friday in the first game of their best-of-seven opening round series, while seventh-place Powell River will meet the Surrey Eagles, which finished second in the BC Hockey League’s Coastal division.
Sunday, the Kings scored twice in the first period, then added three more in each of the second and third periods to register its 20th win of the season. Powell River led 2-1 after the first period and 5-3 heading into the final frame.
Carmen Symons scored a hat trick for the visitors while Parker Lalonde added a pair of goals and an assist.
Mirko Buttazzoni and Tyler Kopff each scored a goal and an assist for the Express.
Coquitlam goalie Brady Smith allowed seven goals on 24 shots before he gave way to backup Emmett Dixon 7:19 into the third period. He stopped four of the five shots he faced.
The Express fired 40 shots at Kings goalie Liam Vanderkooi.
Coquitlam hosts the Chiefs Friday at 7 p.m., with the second game of their first round playoff series scheduled for Saturday. Games three and four will be played in Chilliwack on April 4 and 5. while game five, if necessary, will be back at Poirier on Friday, April 7.
