After quite the exciting affair last night in Coquitlam, the Express followed up with a dominant showing on the road at the Coliseum. The 5-2 final score in and of itself is indicative of how this evening played out, but the way the Express managed this game speaks volumes about how this team is preparing for a deep playoff push.
The Chiefs threw their best punch in the opening 20 as Brady Milburn took matters into his own hands and finished off a 3-on-1 with a snipe past Andrew Ness. The momentum that built appeared as if it would start an avalanche but the Express held firm and tallied one of their own to tie the game. Mason Kesselring pounded home a one-timer on the powerplay to light the red lamp against his former team.
The middle frame saw two goals for Coquitlam and both were equally pretty. Connor Seeley broke free and put a wrist shot off both posts and into the goal for his second of the season. Then it was Carson McGinley’s turn to ripple the twine. The Express denied a 3-on-2 rush and turned it into a 3-on-1 the other way. Thomas Zocco threw the puck rinkwide to the waiting McGinley who loaded up at the left circle and let a one-timer fly to beat Sebastian Gatto. That goal is featured at the very beginning of tonight’s league highlight pack shown below.
Chilliwack had some good chances but that third goal really took the wind from their sails. If there was an overall theme for the evening it was just that. The Chiefs didn’t look like they wanted to win this game. Coquitlam had all the jump and played with energy and purpose.
The death blow came at the hands of Mason Kesselring as he wired home his second of the game at the 4:09 mark of the third. Chilliwack tried to proclaim that news of their demise was greatly exaggerated when Caleb Elfering notched his 18th of the year near the halfway mark of the final frame but it was too little too late. The Express fought off the extra attacker bid and Mason Kesselring tucked this one into bed with an empty netter and a bow to the crowd thereafter.
Kesselring, Zocco and McGinley were unreal tonight for Coquitlam. That line got all three stars of the game and simply found ways to dominate all 200 feet of the ice sheet. The Chiefs had issues with them no matter where they went and it changed the complexion of this game. The obvious standout statistic you would assume to be the Kesselring hatty, but what you can’t ignore is the four assist performance by Thomas Zocco. To see that level of offensive production accompanied by everyone buying in to team defence, it truly is a beautiful thing. You really couldn’t find a standout negative from this one at the Coliseum.
After the big loss to the Eagles last Sunday, the Express rolled up their sleeves and did the dirty work required to take home two against Chilliwack this weekend. Now they will have a shot at redemption on Monday night as they travel once again to South Surrey to take on the Eagles.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER – Brady Milburn
MARINER BREWING THREE STARS
3rd – COQ – Carson McGinley – 1G 1A
2nd – COQ – Mason Kesselring – Hat Trick
1st – COQ – Thomas Zocco – 4 Assists!
– Ian Wilson
