A balanced scoring attack — eight different players found the back of the net while 15 of the 18 skaters registered at least a point — helped the Langley Chiefs to a big win.
The junior A hockey club erupted for eight goals, defeating the Coquitlam Express 8-5 on Tuesday night at the Coquitlam Sports Centre.
The loss was especially costly for the Express as they remain tied with the Cowichan Valley Capitals for the the final playoff spot in the BCHL's Coastal Conference. Both teams have 48 points, although Coquitlam has played one fewer game.
The victory gives Langley (29-21-1-7) 66 points with two games remaining. The team currently holds down third spot as they try to fend off the Victoria Grizzlies, who are three points back but have played two fewer games.
The Chiefs struck for five goals in the opening 20 minutes, but the Express hung tough with three goals of their own.
Trevor Gerling, Kevin Tuohy, Trace Strahle, Darnell Dyck and Ryan Bakken scored for Langley, while Riley McIntosh, Destry Straight and Justin Georgeson responded for the home side.
And Coquitlam's Massimo Lamacchia had the only goal of the middle period to make it a one-goal contest after 40 minutes.
But the back-breaker may have been Dillon Scholten's shorthanded goal 5:19 into the third period.
Kit Sitterley then stretched the lead to 7-4 before Jared Eng pulled the Express back to within a goal.
Josh Hansen sealed things with an empty-net goal.
Wyatt Galley made 27 saves for the victory.
Langley has just one game this weekend, Saturday (Feb. 12) against the Merritt Centennials. Face-off is 7 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre.