If it feels like a while since the Coquitlam Express scored a goal, well, it has.
The Express were shut out for the second game in a row Saturday, falling 3-0 to the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings in their BC Hockey League game at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre. Last Tuesday they lost 5-0 to West Kelowna.
Saturday against the Spruce Kings, who are in first place in the Mainland division, 28 points ahead of the Express, neither team was able to score in the first period. Although the Express came close when Jack MacNab wasn’t able to jam a pass into the crease from Joshua Bruce past sprawling Prince George goalie Bradley Cooper. The horn went off but referee Bryan Bourdon waved the play on.
The Express outshot Prince George 7-5 in the period.
Ben Brar scored the game’s first goal 16 seconds into the second period he converted a pass from the corner Ethan de Jong.
Again the Express were able to generate more shots on net than their opponent, including a scoring chance by William Lawrence after he knocked down a weak clearing pass at the Prince George blue line, and another from the face-off circle by Jordan Schulting. But Cooper was the equal of all 12 shots he faced, while his teammates were only able to direct five shots at Coquitlam keeper Brock Hamm.
In the third period, the Spruce Kings seemed content to protect their narrow lead as they repeatedly iced the puck to eat time.
One of those icing calls almost cost the visitors, though, with about five minutes to play in regulation, as the puck rolled behind the Prince George net after the face-off, then Lawrence won a battle along the boards and sent a pass to Jake Toor in the slot who was robbed by the glove hand of Cooper.
Ben Poisson then gave the Spruce Kings a bit of a cushion when he scored with 2:05 left to play. de Jong scored into the empty net to seal the deal.
Hamm stopped 15 of the 17 shots he faced in Coquitlam’s net, while the Express directed 29 shots at Cooper.
Against West Kelowna, the Express surrendered one goal in the first period, and two in each of the second and third periods.
Ryan Steele scored a hattrick for the Warriors and Nik Amundrud stopped all 21 shots he faced.
Despite the losses, the Express still have a five-point advantage over the Cowichan Valley Capitals for the league’s final playoff spot. Both teams have played 47 games.
The Express embark on a three-game road trip that will take them to South Surrey Arena Thursday for a game against the Surrey Eagles, then Wenatchee on Friday and on Saturday they’ll be in Trail for a game against the Smoke Eaters. Their next home game isn’t until Feb. 7, when they host Salmon Arm.
