The Coquitlam Express were struggling entering the week, but the squad has started to find its groove after picking up their second home win in three nights with a 4-2 victory over the Langley Chiefs.
Massimo Lamacchia and Brandon Scholten traded second period goals, and the Chiefs opened up their first lead of the night when Brad McBride struck on the power-play early in the third. But the Express took over from there, with Lamacchia picking up his second of the game before Alex Petan scored the eventual winner just 28 seconds later. Mike Krgovich picked up his first Express goal into an empty net to cap the scoring.
Khaleed Devji was strong in net, stopping 30 shots for his second win in as many starts.
Meanwhile, in Nanaimo, Colton Cyr scored a late shorthanded goal to pace the Clippers to a 3-2 victory over the Victoria Grizzlies. Cyr also opened the scoring midway through the second, while Kyle Kramer doubled the lead on a power-play 90 seconds later. The Grizzlies responded with a pair of Pearce Eviston tallies to draw even before Cyr counted the winner. Charles-Alexy Premont picked up the win with a 27-save performance.
In Powell River, the Coastal Conference-leading Kings continued to be a tough beat on home ice with a 2-1 decision over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Scott Renner and Carter Shinkaruk put the Kings ahead by a pair before Casy Bailey replied with the lone goal on the night for Alberni Valley. Michael Garteig continued his strong play in net, turning aside 22 shots for his 15th victory of the season.
In Quesnel, the Westside Warriors scored three times in the first period and held on for a 3-2 win over the Millionaires. Alex Grieve, Quinn Gould and Tyler Krause. Chris Blessing replied for the Mills before the first intermission and Justin Hogan drew the home side within one late in the third, but they couldn't find the tying goal. Cam Gorchynski faced 24 shots in the win, while Kirby Halcrow shut down the Warriors for the game's final 48 minutes but took the loss.
In Prince George, Trail forward Connor McLaughlin scored his first two BCHL goals to lead the Smoke Eaters past the Spruce Kings by a 5-3 margin. The host carried a 3-1 lead into the third period on goals by Jujhar Khaira, Connor Tiechko and RJay Berra, but Trail struck for four unanswered — including McLaughlin's pair — in the final 20 minutes. Ryan Luiten was also strong for the Smokies, scoring twice and adding an assist.
In Vernon, the Salmon Arm SilverBacks got the best of their Interior Conference rivals with a 3-2 triumph over the Vipers at the Wesbild Centre. Devin Gannon opened the scoring just 21 seconds into regulation, but Aaron Hadley one-upped him later in the first with a pair of goals in just nine seconds. That lead would fail to hold up, however, as Paul De Jersey and Gannon each tallied in the second to clinch the win.
