The Coquitlam Express beat the Victoria Grizzlies 4-1 Saturday at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex in what is likely a preview of the first round of the BC Hockey League playoffs.
The victory moved the Express to within point of the fourth place Grizzlies, with home ice advantage to be decided over the course of the teams’ next three games.
Coquitlam plays the Coastal division leading Nanaimo Clippers on Sunday before closing out the regular season next weekend with games against the last-place Cowichan Valley Capitals and the seventh-place Powell River Kings. Victoria has games remaining against the Surrey Eagles, Alberni Valley Bulldogs and the Clippers. All three of those teams are ahead of the Grizzlies in the standings.
Saturday, the Express got goals from Emmett McHardy, Evan Brown, Mateo Dixon and Drew Garzone – into an empty net — to sweep the regular season against the Grizzlies.
Brady Smith stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced, while his teammates directed 37 shots at Victoria goalie Oliver Auyeung-Ashton.
Coquitlam's win was a nice bounce-back from the team's 5-2 loss Friday to the eighth-place Langley Rivermen.
