Chilliwack – Matteo Esposito made 31 saves to earn his fourth shutout of the season and Jordan Kawaguchi scored a pair including his 40th of the season to lead the Chiefs to a 5-0 victory over the visiting Vernon Vipers Saturday.
As he did Friday in Coquitlam, Jordan Kawaguchi opened the scoring. Kohen Olischefski picked up the primary assist, following up his blocked shot behind the Vipers net and finding Kawaguchi all alone in front. Kawaguchi wasted no time lifting his 39thgoal of the season over the right shoulder of Vipers goaltender Andrew Shortridge.
Sixty three seconds later it was former Viper Linden Hora upping the Chiefs lead to two. Cutting in on the left wing Hora directed a high back hand shot at the Vipers net. While everyone else in the building lost site of the puck, Hora knew where it was pointing at the net as he circled behind it. Arriving on the scene a split second later the referee also spotted the puck – stuck in the top of the net – and signaled the goal.
Shots after twenty minutes favored the Chiefs 19-9.
The Vipers were a much better team in the second, outshooting the Chiefs 12-6. Fortunately for the Chiefs goaltender Matteo Esposito was up to the challenge stopping all 12 shots, with several saves being of the excellent variety.
With 94 seconds left in the middle frame Kawaguchi struck again, scoring his 40th of the season to give the Chiefs a three goal lead after forty minutes of play.
Third period goals by Connor McCarthy and Dennis Cholowski rounded out the scoring.
Final shots in the game favored the Chiefs 38-31.
The Chiefs were 0/4 on the power play and 3/3 on the penalty kill.
Chilliwack returns to home ice Sunday when they face the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Game time is 5pm. The Chiefs will be wearing special one time only jerseys that will be auctioned off during the with proceeds going to Fraser Valley Health Foundation in support of Chilliwack General Hospital.
