The two participants in the last two BCHL finals came into Coquitlam and came away with wins.
Saturday the BCHL leading Powell River Kings won the special teams battle in a 4-1 win over the Express.
The Kings scored a shorthanded goal by Matt Garbowsky while killing off all 9 Express powerplays. The goal came as a result of Riley Mcintosh pinching at the blueline and Chad Niddery poked it past him setting up a 2 on 1 and Niddery put a perfect pass on the tape of Garbowsky who buried it.
Mike Krogovich was credited with the Express' only goal of the night 35 seconds into the second period when Massimo Lamacchia chopped the puck in front of the net and it bounced off Krgovich and in for Krgovich's 3rd Express goal.
Minutes later with the Kings on the powerplay, Powell River won an offensive zone faceoff and Craig Dalrymple's point shot got past a screened Luke Hernandez to re-store the King lead.
Powell River the BCHL's best defensive team limited the Express chances throughout the course of the game.
In the opening minute of the third period Dalrymple added his second of the night in similar fashion as the Kings won an offensive zone faceoff and Dalrymple fired a screened point shot that got past Luke Hernandez.
If you're sensing a trend here, you are right on a couple of fronts. Powell River has scored 5 goals on Luke Hernandez in the 2 games between the two clubs this season. 4 of them have come in similar fashion as the Kings would just work the puck to the point, set up a screen and get the shot through to the back of the net.
Faceoffs were also a problem for the Express this weekend. Vernon dominated the faoeoff circle especially in the Express end of the rink. Coquitlam's faceoff problems didn't hurt them much Friday. But Powell River had similar success in the faceoff circle and scored a pair of goals as a direct result of winning a faceoff in the Express end.
Carter Shinkaruk iced the game with an empty net goal with just over a minute remaining.
The game had a chance to go in a different direction if the Express could convert on their powerplays that included 3 in the third period. The Express finished 0 for 9 on the powerplay and was 0 for 13 in a pair of home games this weekend.
Coquitlam lost all 3 games on their schedule this week and were outshot 144-65 in those 3 outings.
As a result of the struggles, the Express now sit just one point up on Cowichan Valley for the 7th and final playoff spot in the Coastal Conference.
The Express will play host to Penticton and Victoria next weekend.
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