Ray Hamlin and Matteo Dixon each scored hat tricks to account for all the scoring the Coquitlam Express needed in a 6-5 win over the Chilliwack Chiefs, Friday at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
The win was the first for the Express in four games, while the Chiefs lost for the first time in four games.
Coquitlam, playing without key veterans like Christian McDougall, Kahlil Fontana and Carter Cochrane, opened the scoring with a pair of goals 1:07 apart late in the first period. Dixon and Hamlin then each scored their second goals of the game after the break to stake the home team to a 4-0 lead.
Chilliwack’s Jack Seymour got one back on a power play before Hamlin completed his hat trick with a shorthanded goal 12:03 into the middle frame.
The Chiefs, which are in second place in the BC Hockey Leauge’s Coast Division, scrapped its way back into the game by scoring the next three goals. But Dixon cut the comeback off at its knees when he scored his third goal of the night on a set up by Port Moody’s Ryan Tattle after 12:25 had been played in the third period. It was Dixon’s fifth goal since he joined the Express from the Nanaimo Clippers prior to the BCHL’s trade deadline earlier in January.
Cameron Johnson’s goal with 24 seconds left in regulation time got the Chiefs back to within a goal, but it was too little too late.
Express goalie Carter Woodside won his first game in his three starts since Coquitlam acquired him from the Victoria Grizzlies. Grant Riley took the loss for the Chiefs.
Chilliwack came into the game with one of the best power plays in the BCHL, but managed to score only once with the man advantage while surrendering two power play goals to the Express.
The two teams meet again Saturday, 7 p.m., at Poirier.
• The start of the game was delayed by more than 30 minutes when a sheet of plexiglass behind Chilliwack’s net had to be replaced after it was smashed during the pre-game warmup.
Express head coach Brandon Shaw was also absent from Friday’s game.
Both teams wore their special retro jerseys that celebrate the BCHL's 60th anniversary.
