Splitting a pair of games against the Prince George Spruce Kings over the weekend at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex has left the Coquitlam Express in second place in the BC Hockey League’s Mainland Division. They’re two points behind the Chilliwack Chiefs and two points ahead of Prince George, who’ve played one fewer game than the Express.
The Express rebounded from a tough overtime loss to Prince George on Friday, in which Coquitlam battled back from deficits twice in the third period, to defeat the Spruce Kings 5-3 on Sunday.
But again, they had to come back from a deficit after the visitors scored twice in the first period.
Chase Danol cued Sunday’s comeback with his 10th goal of the season just 27 seconds into the second period and Josh Wildauer got the home team back on even terms less than a minute later.
Regan Kimens and Wildauer, with his second of the game, put Coquitlam up 4-2 by the second intermission.
They increased their margin to 5-2 on a goal by Christian Sanda 13 minutes into the final frame. Corey Cunningham rounded out the scoring when he netted the Spruce Kings’ third goal of the game with just 10 seconds remaining.
Wildauer’s pair of goals earned him recognition as the game’s first star, while Alex DiPaolo pitched in with three assists.
Clay Stevenson stopped 28 of the 31 shots he faced in Coquitlam’s net, while his teammates fired 30 shots at Prince George puckstopper Logan Neaton.
Friday, the Express also spotted the visitors a two goal lead in the first period that the Spruce Kings then made 3-0 less than five minutes into the second period when Dustin Manz scored an unassisted goal while his team was shorthanded.
Danol made it 3-1 when he converted a pass from Chase Danol with a tick under three minutes left in the frame.
Less than a minute into the third period, the Express had battled back to tie the score after goals by DiPaolo and Kimens.
Ben Poisson restored the Spruce Kings’ advantage before Connor Gregga scored for Coquitlam with 5:55 remaining to set up the overtime.
It lasted less than two minutes before Ben Brar beat Coquitlam goalie Kolby Matthews to give the Spruce Kings the win.
The Express interrupt their homestand with a jaunt up to Penticton on Wednesday for a game against the Vees. They then return home for a game Saturday against Cowichan Valley and a special Halloween matinee next Wednesday against the Langley Rivermen at 12 noon.
