A 3-1 loss to the Cowichan Valley Capitals has dropped the Coquitlam Express to last place in the BC Hockey League’s Coastal division.
The teams were tied with 21 points each heading into their showdown Sunday afternoon (Jan. 30) at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
However, the Express still has the upper hand in the race for a playoff berth as Coquitlam has played five fewer games than the Capitals and has a better winning percentage.
It’s that figure that will determine who qualifies as the league is unlikely to make up all games for all teams that had been cancelled and postponed due to COVID-19 protocols and highway closures.
Cowichan Valley, who came into the game riding a three-game losing streak, scored the only goal of the first period then added two more in the second.
Holden Cardinal got one back for the home team, but with just 53 seconds left in regulation time, it was too little too late.
Brayden Melnyk stopped 25 shots in the Express net, while his teammates fired 29 shots and Capitals’ keeper McCoy Bidewell.
The loss dropped Coquitlam’s record to nine wins, 19 losses, one overtime loss and two losses in shootouts. Cowichan Valley now has 10 wins, 24 losses, two overtime losses and one more in a shootout.
The Express next game is Friday (Feb. 4) when the Victoria Grizzlies visit Poirier at 7 p.m.
The team then heads to Langley the next night to play the division-leading Rivermen at the George Preston Arena.
