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Game Day! Coquitlam Express @ Chilliwack Chiefs (1/15/22)

The Coquitlam Express are on the road in Chilliwack tonight to take on the Chiefs as they look to chalk up their first victory of 2022! Puck drop is at 7:00pm.

For the Express, this marks their first game since the BCHL trade deadline and a chance to showcase a very shaken-up roster. Making their Express debut tonight is Surrey product, Brenden Pentecost, who joins the team following a 17-game stint with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL. Pentecost is expected to make an immediate impact on this blue line. The Express are hoping that this new lineup will be able to find success in the back nine of this 2021-22 campaign.

The Express are coming off of a solid effort against the Surrey Eagles back on the 8th – a game in which they lost 3-2, despite peppering the Eagles’ net with 47 shots. The Express showcased depth throughout the lineup and did an excellent job at using their speed to limit Surrey’s time with the puck. They’ll look to build on this effort tonight.

On the other side of the rink, the Chiefs come into this one 4-0-1 in their last five outings as they sit three points back of the Conference-leading Langley Rivermen. This team is undeniably one of the top teams in the league and it’s largely due to their dominance of special teams – the Chiefs own the top powerplay (31.1%) and the most effective penalty kill (85.5%) This was especially noticeable in these two clubs’ previous meeting (Dec.17) when the Chiefs defeated the Express 4-3 in a very tight hockey game – the Chiefs scored three of their goals on the man advantage. In the aforementioned previous five games, the Chiefs’ powerplay has operated at scary 50%. Staying out of the box will be crucial for the Express in tonight’s outing if they hope to get some revenge on this Chiefs team.

Tonight is the first of four meetings between these two teams in January and the first of three consecutive games over the next seven days. Additionally, this series could be a precursor for a possible playoff matchup in March between these two clubs. If the Express remain in the eighth and final playoff spot of the Coastal Conference and the Chiefs overtake the Rivermen for first place, they will play each other in the first round. Granted, the Express still have north of 25 games to play, but it’s a very real possibility that could paint tonight’s game, and this three-game series, with an interesting undertone.

Carter Woodside gets the nod for the Express tonight as he looks to find his first win with the team.

#AllAboard | #WeAreAllExpress