The Coquitlam Express and the Chilliwack Chiefs faced off Thursday night in game five of their playoff series!
First Period
This was a very tentative and close-checking period of play, contrary to the first four games of the series that all saw goals within the first three minutes. To illustrate this point, there was not a shot in this contest until 3:20 in and the period finished with just 13 collective shots.
The Chiefs started this one physical, as usual, and definitely had the upper hand in this department through 20 minutes of play.
Both teams did manage to generate a quality chance. Notably, Jayden Sison was on the mouth of a yawning cage but found the post.
Second Period
The middle frame certainly had more life than the opening one as there were literally double the shots and also countless high-danger opportunities.
It was the Express who controlled the majority of the period, despite being outshot 15-10. They were able to take advantage of the Chiefs’ second-period long change and hold them in their own end for extended periods of time.
However, it was the Chiefs who pushed hard late in the period and found the ice-breaker with 79 seconds remaining. In the final minute, they threatened multiple times for another goal and even hit the post as the horn went.
Third Period
Early in the frame, Luke Vardy braced himself for a hit from the much bigger Xavier Henry and was given a minor penalty and 10-minute misconduct for a check to the head. So, the Express were without one of their top defenders for half of the period.
The Chiefs extended their lead 8:30 into the frame and on the ensuing center-ice faceoff, Jayden Sison was ejected for saying something to the referees. For the entirety of the period, the Express were either without one of their top defenders or one of their top forwards. Not an ideal recipe for mounting a comeback.
The Express were unable to claw back in this one and the Chiefs put one in the empty net to secure a 3-0 win in game five. They now hold a 3-2 lead in the series.
Game six will be Saturday night at the Train Station as the Express play with their season on the line!
#AllAboard | #WeBelieve
