The Coquitlam Express were in Chilliwack Friday morning to take on the Nanaimo Clippers in their second BCHL Showcase Game! The Express would end up coming up short 3-2 in overtime.
The Express played one of their best periods of the season in the first frame, outshooting the Clippers 16-9 and controlling the majority of the period with extended stints of offensive zone time. The Clippers started extremely fast, scoring under a minute into the contest and almost adding another one a few seconds later. The Express did a great job of weathering that initial storm and then going on the offensive. Blake Green would find the equalizer, capitalizing on some zone time and a lot of play in and around the Clippers’ net. The Clippers found a lot of difficulty getting any form of traction at 5-on-5 but the Express did take two penalties in the opening frame, which did give the Clippers some life – particularly late in the period on the powerplay, which forced Connor MacKenzie to stand on his head and make a few phenomenal saves.
In the middle frame, the Express once again played a very strong period, outshooting the Clippers 13-5 and generating a lot of great chances. The Express would get three powerplay looks in the period, including a long four-minute opportunity with a stint at 5-on-3. They didn’t end up scoring, but they did create some momentum which resulted in a Carter Cochrane unassisted marker to tie the game up at two, which would cap off the scoring for the period. The Express, to this point in the contest, had indisputably been the best team, especially at even strength.
The third period was the tightest-checking of the three regulation periods Friday morning, as no goals would end up being scored. However, the Express would once again outshoot the Clippers 9-5. Connor MacKenzie was lights out in the third frame, shutting down multiple breakaways including this monster one on Sean Donaldson as he looked for his third goal of the contest.
Only one shot was needed in overtime, as the Clippers made the most of their opportunity exactly two minutes into the extra period.
The Express deserved a better fate in this one, outshooting the Clippers 38-20 and controlling the majority of play. Unfortunately, they went 0/5 on the powerplay and didn’t execute on most of their top opportunities. They can find solace in the fact that they came away with a point.
They are back in action on Wednesday as they host the Powell River Kings at the Train Station! We’ll see you there.
#AllAboard | #WeAreAllExpress
