Things are beginning to click for the Coquitlam Express. The Express turned in a dominating performance in a 7-2 rout over the Trail Smoke Eaters during a Sunday matinee at Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
Jeremy McNeil staked the Smokeys to a 1-0 lead two minutes into the game but from there it was all Express. Corey Mackin pulled Coquitlam even a minute later and Canon Pieper put the Express on top just two minutes after that.
Express coach Barry Wolff said the flu is going through the Trail lineup and they looked tired playing their third game in three days.
"They got a couple APs [affiliated players] in the lineup. As much as our guys worked hard to get the win, sometimes you take advantage of your opponent," said Wolff, whose Express took a 5-1 lead into the third period and outshot Trail 35-30.
Mackin notched a pair for Coquitlam while Joey Santucci supplied a goal and two assists. Marc Biega and Zach Hodder each had a goal and an assist, with singles going to Daniell Lange and Canon Pieper. Adam Rockwood and Cody Boyd each netted a pair of assists.
"We played four lines the whole night and all four lines were going," said Bo Pieper, who assisted on brother Canon's goal. "I think all four lines added in a goal so that's always good. It always helps out when all four are going."
The win was the fourth straight for the Express, their longest streak of the season.
The Express doubled the Chiefs 6-3 Saturday night in Chilliwack, a day after they stopped the Chiefs 4-2 in Coquitlam.
"We've got a little streak and sometimes it's all confidence," said Wolff, who thinks the team has become stronger with the addition of defencemen J.D. Cotroneo and Mark Whiteley at the trading deadline earlier this month.
"We're just eliminating mistakes and we're learning. Some of the personnel that we shipped out just hurt us at times, with bad goals against just cause of simple turnovers. Now we're moving the puck and eliminating those mistakes."
Canon Pieper, Cody Boyd, Nicholas Rasovic and Jace Hennig did the damage for the Express Friday. Canon Pieper had two goals and two assists against the Chiefs Saturday while brother Bo also chipped in a pair of goals. Hennig and Cameron Marks also scored for the Express, who got two assists from Boyd.
The wins came without Express captain Ryan Rosenthal, who was injured in Coquitlam's 7-3 win over the Surrey Eagles last Wednesday.
"He's got a partial collapsed lung," said Wolff, adding Rosenthal had surgery on Saturday and hopes to have a better idea on how long he will be out of the lineup after he sees the doctor again this week.
Rosenthal scored twice in the win over the Eagles, with Canon Pieper and Mackin also netting a pair. Hennig had the other Express goal while Rockwood had four assists and Hodder and Bo Pieper both recorded a pair of helpers.
The Express host the Merritt Centennials Friday at 7 p.m., their last contest at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex for more than two weeks as they head out on an eight-game swing on the road.
