Missed opportunities came back to haunt the Coquitlam Express Sunday afternoon.
The Express were edged by the Victoria Grizzlies 4-3 at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex despite outshooting the visitors 32-21 including 25-12 in the first two periods.
"In the first period we missed our opportunities to score. We missed a couple of empty nets and that's probably the difference," said head coach Barry Wolff. "If we're up going into the second maybe it's a different game."
The teams were tied 1-1 after the first and headed into the third knotted up 2-2. Garrett Forster's second power play marker of the night put the Grizzlies on top. Jay Mackie gave Victoria a two-goal lead before Corey Mackin brought the Express back within one with just over two minutes to play.
"We dominated most of the play, the power play was probably the difference," said Wolff. "They scored two goals and we didn't score any."
Marc Biega had a goal and assist for the Express and Canon Piper scored the other Coquitlam goal.
"I feel like when we lose these tight games, there are errors that are just so fixable but we just keep committing them. It's frustrating," said Adam Rockwood, who notched his league-leading 26th assist. "I felt that we controlled the play and we had the puck a lot. They got a two-goal lead and sat on it but I felt we dominated."
Following an eight-day layoff, the Express were on the ice for three games over the weekend but Wolff wouldn't use that as an excuse.
"Our guys were pretty fresh and they were the same," he said. "I thought the pace was pretty good for two teams that have played three games in two-and-a-half days."
The Express were pounded by the Chiefs 6-1 Saturday night in Chilliwack. Joey Santucci provided the only offence for Coquitlam who trailed 2-0 after one and 5-1 after two. Pierce Dushenko made 28 saves as the Express were outshot 45-34.
The Express opened the weekend with a 6-3 win over the visiting Langley Rivermen last Friday.
Canon Pieper had two goals and an assist, while Ryan Rosenthal had a goal and two helpers. Santucci, Biega and Mackin had the other goals with Zach Hodder netting a pair of assists. Gordie Defiel made 33 saves for the Express, who were outshot 36-30.
The Express host the Penticton Vees Friday at 7 p.m. at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex before heading to the Okanagan for Saturday's rematch.
