CAPS USE COMEBACK TO VAULT INTO PLAYOFF SPOT

It was a 2nd straight third period meltdown for the Express as the Caps came away with a 6-4 win.

Cowichan Valley rallied with 5 third period goals to rip the rug out from the feet of the Express.

The win allowed Cowichan Valley to leap frog past the Express into the 7th and final playoff spot in the Coastal Conference.

The Express got off to a fast start jumping out to a 3-0 lead on first period goals by Destry Straight, Massimo Lamacchia and Malcom Mckinney.

Cowichan cut the lead down to one on Brendon Macdonald's goal on a partial breakway.

You would figure taking a 3-1 lead to the third period for the Express that it would be safe. And they couldn't blow a lead heading into the third period for a second straight game.

Well, the unthinkable happened.

Cowichan scored twice in a span of 1:24 on goals by Keyler Bruce and Jordan Grant to erase the Express lead.

With the reprecussions of the game for both teams in the standings, neither club would want the game to go to overtime.

Justin Georgeson re-stored the Express lead when the puck squirted to him and he swiped it in for the third Express powerplay goal of the game.

Again, that lead didn't last for the Express as 1:28 later Mike Hammond pulled Cowichan Valley even at 4.

Then with 2:30 to go, Garrick Perry was given a 5 minute major for a blow to the head and a game misconduct. That penalty would prove costly as Tyler Matheson scored twice on that powerplay in a span of 29 seconds to complete the comeback for Cowichan Valley.

Based on the Junior A suppliment, section 1.2 says major penalties result in an automatic 2 game suspension. So the captain will miss Friday's game in Powell River and Saturday in Cowichan Valley.

Enterting the game, the Express knew they had to shutdown the trio of Mike Hammond, Jordan Grant and Tyler Matheson. And for 40 mintues the line of Krgovich, Perry and Grecica who was matched up against the Caps top unit did a good job shutting them down. But in the third period the Caps big 3 combined for 4 goals and 3 assists 7 points.

Special teams remains hot and cold for the Express. The powerplay continues to be a bright spot for the after scoring 3 times Sunday. It's 14 for 42 33.33% in the last 7 games. The penalty killing however is something to be desired. Opponents have gone 10 for 23 43.47% in the last 5 games. And 13 for 37 in the last 7 games.

These third period meltdowns the last 2 games leave a sting to end what was a relatively successful home stand in which the Express went 3-2-0-1.

Now the Express begin a tough portion of their schedule that will see them play 8 of their next 9 games on the road. It starts Friday night in Powell River.