The Coquitlam Express extended their winning streak to three games thanks to a fantastic performance by Chris Tai and a pair of goals from both Corey Mackin and Joey Santucci in a 5-4 win over Salmon Arm. Click here for box score
Tai made 41 saves in the Express crease including 21 in the second period alone to post his third win with the Express. Things didn't start well for Tai and his teammates however.
Salmon Arm jumped on the Express in the opening 10 minutes and were rewarded for it. Karl El-Mir and Josh Blanchard scored 1:02 apart to open up a 2-0 Silverbacks lead midway through the first period. At one point the shots were 9-1 in favor of Salmon Arm.
Brendan Lamont got one back for the Express late in the opening frame after he buried the rebound of a Corey Mackin shot at 16:10 of the first period.
Joey Santucci evened things up for the Express with a power play goal for his fourth of the season with a slap shot that got past the glove of Zach Dyment.
Then the BCHL's goal scoring leader went to work. Corey Mackin scored his first of two on the night on a shorthanded breakaway to give the Express their first lead. It was also the first shorthanded goal for the Express this season.
Mackin then added a goal that will be shown on highlights everywhere. He took the puck in the neutral zone and with time to process what he was going to do, he went to his patented spin-a-rama move from the right wing cutting to the net and roofing a water bottle popping backhand past Dyment for a 4-2 Express lead.
Mackin now leads the BCHL with 18 goals. He also had an assist for a three point night.
Mackin now leads the BCHL with 18 goals. He also had an assist for a three point night.
Late in the second period came a key sequence in determining the outcome tonight.
The Express ran into penalty trouble with Cody Boyd heading off for unsportsmanlike conduct, Brendan Lamont being sent off for a minor for high sticking which was quickly followed by a double minor high sticking penalty to captain Joey Santucci.
The result was an extended 5 on 3 advantage and a double minor Salmon Arm powerplay that carried over into the third period.
But this is when Chris Tai cemented his first star honors in this game. He was spectacular in the second period. Most notably on the Silverback power play which helped preserve the two goal lead through 40 minutes.
Then in the third the Express were able to kill off the remaining 2:44 of the Santucci penalty to open the frame and hold on to their two goal lead.
This game was destined to have drama going right to the end. Logan Mick cut the Express lead to 4-3 midway through the third period.
Joey Santucci then added his second of the game less than two minutes later when his shot handcuffed Angus Redmond who swatted the rebound of the shot out of the air with his stick and just across the goal line before the net was knocked off. Referee Brett Iverson deserves credit for being in good position to make the call.
Salmon Arm again made it a one goal game as Ross Hedit scored deflecting Phill Middleton's point shot making the finish a nerve racking one.
Santucci is credited with the game winning goal tonight. But he also had to sit and watch his teammates cap off a great night on the penalty kill when he was called for goaltender interference with just under three minutes remaining.
The Express held off Salmon Arm's final push to preserve the victory tonight. The Silverbacks did go 1 for 8 on the power play. But the Express penalty killers deserves plenty of kudos for their efforts to kill off the final 7 Silverback man advantages Wednesday night.
Coquitlam will take their three game win streak and look to build on it with a home and home with Surrey starting Friday night in Coquitlam.
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