Joey Santucci and the Express came out firing early on in the first period. The score keepers at the Poirier Sport & Leisure complex were having a hard time keeping up with the Express offence who scored four goals in just 81 seconds. Three of those goals were scored by Santucci, who's first period hat-trick combined with a Canon Pieper goal gave Coquitlam a 4-0 lead. They would not look back, adding goals from Adam Rockwood, Marc Biega, Ryan Rosenthal, Jackson Cressey, and a second by Pieper. Gordie Defiel picked up his 10th win of the year as the Express came out on top in the 9-6 score.
Next up was a trip to Alberni Valley to play the Bulldogs. The Express were looking to make amends for a 6-4 loss in their last meeting on November 1st. It was a back and forth affair from puck drop as goals and scoring opportunities were traded early and often. Despite goals by Cressey and Rosenthal, the Express went into the third period trailing by one. John Saunders and Joey Santucci put the Express in front, but a last minute equalizer by Alberni Valley sent the game to overtime. It was Captain Ryan Rosenthal who came to the rescue 2:47 into the extra frame, scoring the game winner and his second of the night. Pierce Dushenko got the start in net and he didn't disappoint, stopping 37 shots en route to his fifth win this season.
The final game of the weekend came Sunday afternoon versus the Nanaimo Clippers. The tough travel and schedule caught up with Coquitlam, who despite out shooting Nanaimo for most of the game failed to stop the Clipper power play, which scored four times. The game finished 8-1 in favour of the home team.
The Express will now return home and get set to take on the Prince George Spruce Kings on Wednesday night. Prince George sits 8 points ahead of the Express in the Mainland Division. Puck drop is at 7:30pm.
