The Coquitlam Express scored three times in the first period, and twice in the second to defeat the Prince George Spruce Kings 5-1 at the BCHL Showcase Wednesday afternoon in Chilliwack.
It was the team’s fifth straight win after opening the season with three losses in a row.
The road to victory started early when Mirko Buttazzoni scored 1:01 into the game. He then helped set up Mateo Dixon midway through the period to extend Coquitlam’s lead to 2-0. Bobby Landry’s first goal of the season with 16 seconds left before the intermission put the Express up 3-0.
The offensive assault continued 3:49 after the break when Jason Gallucci made it 4-0, and Gavin Giesebrecht’s fifth goal of the season increased the margin to five.
Defensively, the Express stifled the Spruce Kings, holding them to just 11 shots through the first two periods.
Prince George got one goal back in the third period when Jake Schneider beat Brady Smith in Coquitlam’s net as Tyler Kopff served a roughing minor penalty
Buttazzoni finished the game with two assists in addition to his goal, to lead the Express offence, while Gallucci and Giesebrecht each tallied a goal and an assist.
Smith stopped 21 shots to earn his second win in Coquitlam’s net, while the Express fired 35 shots at the Spruce Kings’ net.
Coquitlam will try to extend its winning streak to six when it plays Salmon Arm Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the Chilliwack Coliseum, where all the league’s 18 teams have convened to play before pro and college scouts.
