By Shaelee Dombrowski
Saturday night saw the Chilliwack Chiefs take on the Coquitlam Express for the sixth time this season. In all five previous games, the home team came out victorious. Chilliwack looked to keep that trend going to complete one half of the necessary game outcomes on the night to clinch a playoff berth. It was a special night at the Coliseum as the Chiefs hosted their annual First Responders Night, honouring seven community heroes who have demonstrated excellence in their field and exceptional community service with the Matthew Hutchinson Memorial Award.
Chilliwack, B.C. – The Chiefs started the game off with a strong first period. Markuss Sieradzkis got Chilliwack on the board first with his sixth goal of the season, assisted by Jack Plandowski at 6:04. Boris Borin struck next with a goal just twenty-six seconds into the Chiefs’ power play at 7:47. Jack Plandowski and Dustin Renas picked up the helpers on Borin’s ninth goal of the season. With two assists in the first period, Jack Plandowski increased his league-leading assists to 37 and claimed top spot in the league in points. At the end of the first period, shots were 11-4 Chilliwack.
Coquitlam and Chilliwack traded a pair of goals in the middle frame. Cooper Wilson got the Express on the board at 2:46, assisted by Todd Kilpela and Tyler Chiovetti, to cut the Chiefs’ lead in half. At 9:59, Coquitlam tied the game up after a shot from the point was tipped into the back of the net by Brady Engelkes. A rebound goal from Chilliwack’s A.J. Schaaf at 15:35 regained the Chiefs’ lead. Koby Francis and Adam Boatter assisted on what was Schaaf’s tenth goal of the season. The Chiefs weren’t finished yet. With just twenty-two seconds left in the second period, Jack Plandowski regained the Chiefs’ two-goal lead with his twenty-second of the season, assisted by Nico Grabas.
After the Chiefs were burned by a short-handed goal in the middle of the third, Chiefs’ captain, Nico Grabas, regained their two-goal lead with a power play goal assisted by Boris Borin and Reese Shaw. With his assist on Grabas’ team-leading twenty-fourth goal of the season, Shaw extended his point streak to thirteen games. Thirty-two seconds later, Kevin Perreault followed up with a backhanded goal, assisted by Easton Schlender and Sam Auld. After the third period media timeout, the Express opted to change their goalies. With just forty-five seconds left in the game, Markuss Sieradzkis got behind Coquitlam’s defence to score a breakaway goal, marking his second of the game and seventh of the season. In the 7-3 Chiefs win, shots were 28-27 for Coquitlam. Nico Grabas and Jack Plandowski each had a multi-point night, putting them tied for top of the league in points with fifty-nine.
Chilliwack had another successful weekend, picking up all four points available to them and extending their win streak to six games. Despite their win, the Chiefs did not clinch a playoff berth on Saturday evening, as the Surrey Eagles secured a point in overtime in their game against Alberni Valley. The Chilliwack Chiefs will be back at the Chilliwack Coliseum on Monday, February 16th, for their Family Day game. Puck drop is at 2 PM as they take on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Photo credit: Jackson Ferguson
