It was a tight battle for the full 60 minutes, and the Express found a way to prevail by a score of 3-1 over Alberni Valley extending their winning streak to 5 games thanks in part to Cole Huggins.
The Express netminder finished with 37 saves, with 17 of those coming in the third period alone.
The game started with a bang as in the opening minute Turner Popoff leveled Express captain Alex Petan. He was clearly shaken up on the hit. He did finish the period, but Petan didn't play in the second and third periods. Mitch Nardi quickly came to the defence of his captain and dropping the mitts with Poppoff.
Max Fenkell set the tone for a strong game in the Bulldog crease with a number of nice saves off the Express in the opening period.
Coquitlam finally broke through late in the period as Cody Michelle snapped a shot from the slot and got just enough on it to power it through Fenkell to open the scoring.
The game remained 1-0 until the 7 minute mark of the second period when Alex Kerfoot set up John Siemer who blasted home his 18th of the season along the ice through the legs of Fenkell to put the Express up 2-0.
The lead was quickly cut back down to one just 28 seconds later as the Bulldogs won a faceoff in the Express zone and Evan Tironese re-directed a Nick Tupper point shot through the legs of Cole Huggins.
The Express needed their netminder in the third period. Alberni Valley pressed for the entire period looking for the equalizer, but Huggins stood tall for the entire frame to keep the Express in the lead.
Alberni Valley's best chance to tie the game came with just under 3 minutes to go as Justin Georgeson and Jason Bird were each called for seperate minors giving the Bulldogs a 6 on 3 advantage for a full two minutes after pulling Max Fenkell.
The Bulldogs pressed with a number of quality chances on the great chance to tie it, but Huggins came up with a game saving performance for the Express to cap off a 17 save third period.
Justin Georgeson iced the game in the dying seconds picking up his second point of the game by scoring into an empty net.
Alberni finished the game outshooting the Express 38-29. Both teams went 0 for 6 on the powerplay.
The Express are back in action Saturday when they play host to the Powell River Kings.
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