The Okotoks Oilers have defeated the Coquitlam Express 5-3 in BCHL action.
Coquitlam embarked on their lone Alberta trip of the season with the first stop in Okotoks to face the Oilers. Both teams would come out of the gate hot with offensive chances, with Coquitlam also getting an early powerplay opportunity. It would take almost the entirety of the opening frame. But Okotoks would strike first as Josh Wiebe picked up his 8th of the season to put the Oilers up 1-0. They wouldn’t stop there as just 51 seconds later Jordan Murray would split past the Express defence and put Okotoks up 2-0 with his 3rd on the year. The Express would finish the period with 15 shots but all would be turned aside by former netminder Eric Young, sending the Oilers up 2-0 heading into the 2nd period.
Coquitlam would see another early powerplay, after killing off one carried over from the end of the 1st. As Cole Bishop would finish off a pretty passing play for his 9th on the season to get the Express on the board. Both goalies would hold solid through the better half of the middle frame. But it’d be another late goal for Okotoks, this time from Brady Engelkes to put Okotoks up 3-1, a lead they’d take with them into the 3rd period.
Being down headed into the 3rd has been a bit of a trouble for the Express as of late. And they’d need another big 3rd period come back. They’d get things on the right track, as Carson McGinley would break free shorthanded and pot his 6th of the season to pull the Express back within 1. Justin Ivanusec, in his return to the lineup, would score less than 3 minutes later. And just like that the game was all tied up 3-3. However it wouldn’t take long for the Oilers to respond. As just 3:19 later Gabriel Simpson would get his 2nd on the year and put the Oilers back up a goal. The Express would push late looking for another equalizer. Maddox Osaka would help keep the team in the game, but his 32 saves in his Express debut wouldn’t be enough. As the Oilers would add an empty netter from Michael Kowalski and take the game by a 5-3 final.
Coquitlam returns to action tomorrow night Saturday, November 29th as they take on the defending Fred Page Cup Champion Brooks Bandits to wrap up their Alberta road trip.
