Perhaps the Coquitlam Express should play three games in three days more often.
The Express capped a gruelling weekend series with a gritty 4-3 victory Sunday afternoon over the host Alberni Valley Bulldogs at Weyerhaeuser Arena.
The victory was the second in the tough trio for the Express, who opened the B.C. Hockey League season with a pair of losses and now sit a respectable 2-3-0. Mitch Nardi's two goals, along with goalie Khaleed Devji's 33-save effort, saved the day for the Express, who led 1-0 and 4-2 at the breaks.
"Surviving a three-game weekend, in this case three 60-minute contests in less than 48 hours, can be a monumental task for any team," Express assistant coach Grant Kerr said via the team's website. "[We] are showing encouraging signs offensively. The defensive game still is a work in progress and will receive more attention in practice."
Alex Petan and Clinton Atkinson were the other Express triggermen against the Bulldogs. The Express opened the weekend Friday with a 6-2 romp over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks before a sparse crowd of 674 at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex.
Coquitlam darted to a 3-0 lead before the game was 22 minutes old and sailed to the win. Alexander Kerfoot netted a pair of goals and added one assist for the Express, whose other goals came courtesy of Taylor Love, Steven Layani, Malcolm McKinney and John Siemer, who also collected two assists.
Things turned around abruptly Saturday, as the Express trailed 4-0 early the second period and struggled in a four-goal defeat.
Kerfoot netted Coquitlam's lone goal.
ICING: The Express selected Coquitlam defenceman Viktor Dombrovskiy with their first of two picks in the inaugural BCHL affiliate player draft of 15-year-olds last week.
