The Coquitlam Express have defeated the Prince George Spruce Kings 4-2 in BCHL action.
It was the second and final game at the BCHL Road Show in Burns Lake, as the Express looked to extract some revenge after last night loss to Prince George. The Express started off the right foot. Getting the opening goal as Nate Crema tapped home a feed from George Stavrianeas for his 12th of the season to make it 1-0 Express. Coquitlam saw some stellar goaltending from Ryan Parker in this matinee matchup. He’d stop all 7 Spruce Kings shots in the opening 20 minutes as the Express took their 1 goal lead into the middle frame.
It was still anyones game with the puck being dropped on the 2nd. The physicality and bad blood from last night carried over into this game as well. Which would lead to the game seeing some 4 on 4 action. It’d be the Spruce Kings taking advantage of the extra ice. As Marcus Lougheed tied the game with a one timer to grab his 17th goal on the season. Coquitlam would find the response later in the period. Brady Engelkes continued his hot start in an Express uniform. Finding his 13th on the year and 2nd with the Express to put Coquitlam back ahead by 1. There’d be a late chance on the man advantage for the Express, but they wouldn’t be able to find another marker. They would take a late penalty themselves but be able to escape the 2nd still up by 1.
Coquitlam began the 3rd period shorthanded, and it’d take just 15 seconds for the Spruce Kings to take advantage. Ben Vreugdenhill would tie up the game with his 8th the season, and tighten this game right back up. The Express would push back. And shortly after found a game breaking goal as Michael Munroe would bat the puck in to beat the Spruce Kings netminder and make it 3-2 Coquitlam. With an early game breaking goal, the Express looked to do all they could to shut down Prince George. Backed by Ryan Parker’s 32 save performance, they’d hold on, as Carson McGinley iced the game with an empty netter to give the Express a 4-2 win.
The Express return to action at the Train Station Friday, February 20th as they host the Cowichan Valley Capitals for the first time this season.
