By Gary McKenna
The Tri-City News
The Coquitlam Express was scheduled to play two games on the road last weekend but after both matches went to double-overtime, it felt a lot more like three.
First up in the club's weekend road trip was the Trail Smoke Eaters, who played a solid match in front of their fans.
The home team jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the first period with goals from Ryan Swanson and Lincoln Lane, while the Express' Jackson Cressey found the back of the net on the power play.
In the second, Coquitlam captain Joey Santucci buried a pass from Cody Boyd, but Trail responded with a marker from Charlie Zuccarini.
Cressey, who was the third star of the game, forced overtime when he made it 3-3 with five minutes left in the third period. But the Express came up short in the second overtime period when Eater Zuccarini ended the game with an unassisted goal.
Coquitlam played another five-period game on Saturday, when the Salmon Arm Silverbacks hosted the Express at the Shaw Centre.
The game was almost an exact repeat of the bout against the Smoke Eaters, this time with the visiting team taking a 2-1 lead in the first. Santucci opened the scoring for the Express before teammates Daniell Lange made it 2-1.
Neither club was able to find the back of the net in the second, but in the third the Silverbacks were able to tie things up, despite a second goal from Santucci.
After two periods of overtime, neither team was able to find the winning goal, with the two clubs splitting the points in the standings.
Santucci was named second star in the match, while goalie Chris Tai stopped 39 of the 42 shots he faced during 70 minutes of hockey.
Coquitlam will return home this Friday, when the team takes on Chilliwack at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
For more information go to www.coquitlamexpress.ca.
@GMcKennaTC
