The Langley Rivermen came out with a furious start scoring twice within the first five minutes and rode a dominant performance to a 5-0 win over the Express to cut Coquitlam's series lead to 2-1.
Brock Crossthwaite made 24 saves for his second shutout of the playoffs, improving his post-season save percentage to .925.
Jakob Reichert got things going just 22 seconds into the first scoring his fourth of the playoffs catching Coquitlam goaltender Gordie Defiel at the near side of the crease, sliding the puck into the empty net to give the Rivermen the early lead. Then on Langley's first power play of the game, Will Cook put home his first of the playoffs at the 4:39 mark in his first game back from injury in what was a very solid performance overall. Then at the 11:35 mark, Kevan Kilistoff backhanded a shot past Defiel for his fourth as the Rivermen took a 3-0 lead on just six shots.
Langley kept the momentum going in the second as Austin Azurdia got his fourth, on the power play, just 1:35 in from James Robinson and Zach Urban to take a 4-0 lead. Midway through the period, Mitch McLain had a Tanner Johnson shot go off his skate and into the back of the net for his second.
The Express pushed back later in the second outshooting the Rivermen 11-8 in the period but could not beat Crossthwaite who earned his fifth win of the post-season. Kilistoff, Azurdia, Robinson, and Reichert each had a two-point night while ten Rivermen found the scoresheet.
The Rivermen picked up a critical win in the best-of-seven division final series and can even things up with a victory Tuesday night in game four in Coquitlam.