A power failure with the man advantage proved costly for the Coquitlam Express.
The Express went 0-for-10 on the power play as they dropped a pair of weekend games to the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings.
Bryant Christian scored 29 seconds into the second overtime with the teams playing three on three to give the Spruce Kings a 4-3 win Sunday afternoon.
"PG played hard and stuck to their systems. They kept it simple," said Express head coach Barry Wolff. "None of their goals were highlight-reel goals, they just shot it at the net and it went in. We need to be a little bit smarter with our decision making."
Corey Mackin and Canon Pieper notched first-period markers for the Express, who were up 2-1 after one and tied 2-2 after two. Prince George jumped out to an early lead in the third before Ben Israel flipped a puck out of his zone and sent in Express captain Ryan Rosenthal, who beat Alex Murray low to the glove side to square things up.
Gordie Defiel made 23 saves for the Express, who outshot the Spruce Kings 40-27. Coquitlam was unable to score on six power play opportunities Sunday and went 0-for-4 with the man advantage in a 3-2 loss Friday night.
"There were definitely opportunities but again they did a good job of just protecting the front of the net and there wasn't a whole lot of second chances for us," said Wolff. "We just need to be a little more determined and a little more gritty in the paint area and find the loose pucks."
Bo Pieper and Joey Santucci paced the offence Friday for Coquitlam, who led 1-0 after one and 2-1 after two. Defiel turned aside 19 shots.
Wolff said he plans to put the focus on specialty teams during this week's practice.
"Guys just need to figure it out. If not, we just need to change the people on the power play," he said. "Guys have to want to go to the dirty areas, right now everybody just wants to be pretty."
The Express added some grit last week when they acquired John Saunders from the Whitecourt Wolverines of the Alberta Junior Hockey League for future considerations. The 6'2" 190-lb. defenceman posted two goals and two assists during a previous stint in the B.C. Hockey League with the Merritt Centennials.
"He brings some grit and toughness, something we need. We need to be a little tougher to play against and he adds that," said Wolff.
Sunday's loss drops the Express' record to 3-2-2 to put them in fourth spot in the BCHL's Mainland Division, three points back of the first-place Spruce Kings.
The Express will host the Chilliwack Chiefs Friday at 7 p.m. before squaring off in a rematch in Chilliwack Saturday night and heading to Surrey Sunday to take on the Eagles.
