There’s no place like home.
At least that is what the Coquitlam Express are hoping.
After a stretch that has seen the club play one of their last six games in front of the friendly faces at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex, the team will return to Coquitlam this weekend for an extended run on home ice.
The break from the road couldn’t come soon enough.
The Express have not won a game since Oct. 21 — a 5-4 victory against the Wenatchee Wild — and the injury-ravaged team has quickly tumbled down the BCHL standings to last place in the league.
Last weekend’s games did little to turn things around for the club.
On Saturday, the Chilliwack Chiefs were the latest to put another mark in the Express’ loss column, defeating the visiting Coquitlam team 9-1 in front of 2,989 fans at the Prospera Centre.
Cal Babych, who was brought onboard after a spate of injuries hit the the Express last month, scored Coquitlam’s loan goal in the outing, which came in the third period after the team was already down 8-0.
Chilliwack’s Davis Bunz restored the eight-goal lead 30 seconds later, while Express goalie Reid Cooper faced 53 shots in 60 minutes of action Saturday night.
Friday’s game was not much better for Coquitlam.
The team fell 6-3 to Prince George during a rare home game that saw the Express spot the visitors a 3-0 lead in the first period.
Alex Amrbrosio managed to momentarily halt the Spruce Kings’ scoring streak with a minute left in the first period to make it 3-1 going into the first intermission. But Prince George resumed putting the puck in the net in the second with goals from Jarod Hovde and Travis Schneider.
Express forwards Christian Bosa and Ryleigh Anderson scored their first of the season during Friday’s game, but it was not enough to help the team make a come back.
If Coquitlam hopes to snap their losing skid, they will have to do it against some tough competition.
The league-leading Penticton Vees will be in town on Friday (Nov. 18) for a 7 p.m. faceoff, before Chilliwack visits the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex on Saturday at 7 p.m. Coquitlam will also play a mid-week game on Wednesday against the Surrey Eagles at 7 p.m.
For more information and a complete season schedule go to www.coquitlamexpress.ca.
