If you like goals, boy did this weekend provide for you and then some. Over two games the Express came away with a combined 11 on the scoresheet and three of four points overall. The defence could have used a boost but sometimes you just have to plainly outscore your opponent to claim the victory.
In a role reversal to last night, the Express got out to an early advantage and did a great job of dictating the flow of play through 20 minutes. Carson McGinley was the first to get involved on the goalscoring parade with his second as an Express less than 90 seconds in. Then about halfway through the period, Joseph Odyniec pounced on a miscue by Garin Ludwig and broke free shorthanded. Streaking down the wing he snapped a wrister past Chazz Nixon for his first since returning from injury.
The Clippers managed to chip away on the very same powerplay and got one of their own via Dylan Kinch. Not long afterwards, Mitch Kneidel scored his second of the year as he just tossed one on goal from the left point upon entering the zone and it soared over the shoulder of Nixon to everyone’s befuddlement. That would be the end of Nixon’s night as Otto Nuto swapped in for the remainder of the contest. Nanaimo used that shift in energy to get one more in the opening frame as Cole Lonsdale banged home a rebound with just over a minute to go.
In the second, the see saw continued to tilt back and forth. Nate Crema got his second of the weekend as he slotted home a rebound in the chaos of a netfront battle. Using that momentum, Coquitlam kept pressing and generated some more quality chances but Nuto played well for a solid stretch. Makaio Van Tassel capitalized on one of those big saves as a missed opportunity on one end for Coquitlam ended with the Clippers rushing the other way. The Express broke through once more to restore the two-goal lead with under a minute left when Mason Kesselring shot a cross-body rocket from distance and it fooled the Nanaimo netminder. The Clippers were pressing off the adrenaline rush from Van Tassel’s goal so Kesselring came through in an extremely timely manner.
Things stayed close in the third as the home side refused to go away quietly. Luke Lavery got the third powerplay goal of the night for Nanaimo and reduced the advantage for Coquitlam to one. As the third went along, you could feel that something was going to give. Either the Express were destined for another game heading beyond 60, or they would finally break through again and banish the demons from the night prior. In perhaps the highlight of the weekend, the dagger was found by a guy who has waited a very long time to light the red lamp.
With the Clippers pressing and the extra attacker on the ice, Coquitlam dug in and held the line. As the puck re-entered the zone Cooper Wilson stepped up and halted the offence by winning the puck, turning, and firing it back down the ice. It hopped, skipped, and jumped before curling into the waiting cage as the empty netter sealed the deal. The former Nanaimo Clipper got his first career goal in game 72 of his career and the celebrations were immediate from his teammates. That smile was worth a million dollars and lit up Frank Crane just a bit brighter.
The caveat of Saturday night’s game, and the weekend overall, is still the defence. Coquitlam scored 11 goals but gave up 10 and escaped with three of a possible four points. Early in the season, the Express were one of the most dialed-in defensive units. That identity showed a few cracks to begin 2025 but with how hot the offence has been, now is the time to find that version of themselves again. Scoring five goals a game and also holding your opponent down in the process is a recipe for a team bearing down on a championship run. The formula is there, Coquitlam just need to find the last few variables.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER – Otto Nuto
MARINER BREWING THREE STARS
3rd – NAN – Dylan Kinch – 1G 2A
2nd – COQ – Mason Kesselring – 1G 1A
1st – NAN – Luke Lavery – 1G 3A
– Ian Wilson
