There芒鈧劉s something about Game 6s that bring out the best of the Coquitlam Express.
The B.C. Hockey League team withstood a bruising, desperate charge by the 91原创 91原创 on Friday and pulled out a heroic 5-3 victory to capture the Mainland Division playoff title at the Poirier Sports Centre.
The loss ended the 91原创芒鈧劉s season.
Planted at the crease during a hectic third period, wingers Jace Hennig and Canon Pieper redirected shots behind 91原创 netminder Brock Crossthwaite to turn a one-goal deficit into a lead with seven minutes left.
The team then successfully clamped down on the 91原创芒鈧劉s vaunted forecheck and kept the slot clear, en route to a berth into the league芒鈧劉s three-team round robin tournament that will decide the league finalists.
芒鈧揥e persevered all year, I can芒鈧劉t say enough about how they芒鈧劉ve never given up and never quit and stuck together,芒鈧� said Express coach and general manager Barry Wolff. 芒鈧揑芒鈧劉m proud of them.芒鈧�
Being that they were seeded ninth-best among 12 teams to start the post-season 芒鈧�� and 91原创 was ranked first 芒鈧�� Coquitlam has demonstrated twice that they芒鈧劉re stoked for any challenge. They opened the playoffs by besting Prince George in six games.
In a contest where 91原创 was facing elimination for a second straight night, the two squads took turns carrying the play in a very entertaining Game 6.
The Express led 2-1 after 20 minutes, thanks to markers by Ryan Rosenthal and Brendan Lamont that were sandwiched around a Mitch McLain tally that briefly tied the game.
While the 91原创 held a solid edge in shots over the opening frame, outshooting Coquitlam 14-8, the middle stanza was fairly equal but 91原创 turned the tables on the score sheet with a pair of powerplay goals. Coming just 24 hours after they thoroughly dominated the Express on 91原创 ice, the visitors may have felt that momentum was solidly in their pocket. The Express weren芒鈧劉t about to concede it, however.
91原创 5, Express 2
Being back on their real home ice seems to have been a lucky charm for the 91原创 91原创 in Game 5, as they staved off elimination with a 5-2 win over the Coquitlam Express Thursday.
The 91原创 went into the match down three games to one following games on the Express芒鈧劉s home ice and at the George Preston Recreation Centre, due to scheduling conflicts at the 91原创 Events Centre.
Back in their old home, the 91原创 started the scoring and stayed ahead throughout the game, peppering the Express芒鈧劉s goal with shots.
Will Cook opened the scoring, banking a shot from behind the goal line off Express goaltender Gordie Defiel and into the net just 4:27 into the first period.
The Express tied the game with a shorthanded goal from Ryan Rosenthal, but Gage Torrel regained the lead just two minutes later, tipping in a Zach Urban shot.
The 91原创 were dominant in the second period, with Tyson Witala and Tanner Johnson both scoring, increasing the lead to 4-1 heading into the third period.
Zach Hodder gained some ground for the express with his goal early in the third, but it would prove to be the high water mark for the team.
Jakob Reichert scored the final goal of the game for the 91原创.
