The Coquitlam Express are hoping to end a disappointing season on a high note when they host the Prince George Spruce Kings tonight (Friday).
With an 11-43-1-2 record, the season will end for Coquitlam this week no matter what happens against Prince George, as the playoffs get underway on Saturday.
But the Express are doing what they can to finish up the year with some positives.
Last Saturday, the team shutout the visiting Alberni Valley Bulldogs 3-0 in a game that saw Coquitlam goalie Reid Cooper make 35 stops, a performance that earned the netminder first-star honours.
Unlike many efforts this season, the home team took an early lead, with Christian Bosa scoring his third and fourth goals of the year before the first intermission.
Blake Hayward potted one in the second, assisted by captain Luca Leone, while a tight defence and solid penalty killing kept the Bulldogs off the board.
Coquitlam’s Jake Toor was named second-star of the game, while Alberni Valley goalie Brody Claeys was awarded third star after turning away 36 of the 39 shots he faced.
Things did not go as well for the Express last week during a visit from the Wenatchee Wild.
Coquitlam could barely muster any shots against the speedy American squad, with only six attempts on goal before the third period.
Meanwhile Wenatchee, which is the best club in the league this season with a 43-9-4-0 record, pummeled the Express goalie Lawson Fenton with seven goals on 28 shots. He was pulled in favour of Cooper, who stopped 28 of the 30 shots he faced in the 9-0 rout.
Brian Williams and Matthew Baker both scored two goals for the visitors, while Tyler Rockwell, Dakota Raabe, A.J. Vanderbeck, Alex Bates and Logan Milliken each picked up singles.
Puck drop for tonight’s (Friday) game is 7 p.m. at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex. For more information go to www.coquitlamexpress.ca.
