Four games left. That is what remains of the regular season as the Express prepare for war with Prince George tonight at the Poirier. Coming into tonight there also still remains a three-way tie for third place with precious few points separating second from third and then fifth from seventh. Every game is huge and can either set you on the right path heading into a playoff push, or it can set you back immeasurably.
Coquitlam hope to kick off the second last weekend of the regular season with a win over the Spruce Kings. Whomever is victorious, it will break the deadlock as this seven-game season series is tied up at three a piece. The most recent of those six affairs came on February 27th in Coquitlam where the Express prevailed 4-1 on a Thursday Night and set back the hopes of Prince George as they yearn to see the postseason. The Spruce Kings are four points back of Langley for the eighth seed with a game in hand but the Express have a chance to play spoiler. This will be a tough test regardless of the motivation level because Coquitlam have struggled against the physicality PG brings this season. Especially with a depleted lineup due to injury, being smart with the puck and keeping your head up during and after you move the biscuit will be massive to ensuring no more personnel are lost.
Despite the losses last weekend, the Express have shown they are still a dangerous opponent despite the current injury situation. Guys are stepping into bigger roles and not shying away from the spotlight. Connor Seeley continues to chip in each weekend and even more depth scoring stayed present in the form of a two-goal game from Nolan Flynn, and contributions from Cale Colwell and Trip Pendy. When the entire lineup continues to chip in, good things happen. Stay tuned for injury updates closer to puck drop tonight as with each passing week guys have the chance to get healthier and prepare to return. As well, the integration of the Express’ Black Ace, Jimmy Dodig, will be extremely exciting moving forward.
It isn’t hard to guess who will be between the pipes for Prince George tonight. When your season is on the line, you go with your X-factor. Charles Edward Gravel has been nothing short of spectacular since debuting in the BCHL 10 games ago. Coquitlam will need to get him as uncomfortable as the last visit the Spruce Kings made to the Train Station. That game was certainly an anomaly though. In the 10 games he has played this season since his acquisition, only once has he posted a save percentage below .900. And if you already guessed which one it is, you’re right. The Express are the only team that have truly solved Gravel this season, albeit it took them their third time facing him to do it. Take the lessons learned from that game and apply them here tonight.
If the Express can not only solve Gravel again, but shutdown the impressively effective Prince George forecheck, they will have great success at home tonight.
The Spruce Kings are on borrowed time heading into this weekend. They are 2-3 in their last five and will need all their big guns coming to bear this evening at the Poirier.
– Ian Wilson
