KINGS PREPARE FOR EXPRESS

Powell River enjoyed a much deserved off day Wednesday, with most of the team trying to recover from the flu.  Assistant Coach Geoff Grimwood noted on Tuesday, the flu affected more then just the four scratch for the game.

The Kings will hit the ice this afternoon, and by then the team should have a better idea of who will be playing tomorrow against the Coquitlam Express. Matt Garbowsky sat out for the second straight game on Tuesday, and by my account, didn't look very hot. Give credit for the team sucking it up and not using illness as an excuse and coming out with two points over the Bulldogs.

Also Head Trainer Brendon Kerr and Assistant Pat Hurren will be busy for the next few days trying to stop this virus from spreading in the dressing room. It is always tough when one player comes down with the flu, as teams share water bottles, towels and the like. When a bug hits one player your almost certain you will get a few more casualties. Heck, Associate Head Coach, Chad van Diemen was under the weather on Tuesday.

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The Express have dropped their last two games to Alberni Valley and Cowichan Valley by a combined score of 10-6. The latter of the two losses most likely stung more, as they saw a three goal first period lead disappear in Sunday's 6-4 loss to Cowichan.

Destry Straight, Massimo Lamacchia and Malcom McKinney did get the Express out to a 3-0 lead after one period and were up 3-1 after two periods. However the Capitals blitz Coquitlam for five goals in the third period en route to a 6-4 win.

Coquitlam has been a little hot and cold coming into the new year. The Express rattled off wins over Quesnel and Prince George before their mini two game slide. In their last five games the Express have a very respectable 2-2-0-1 record. This team is younger then most, and with younger teams, your going to have your ups and downs.

The Express have five18 year olds, four 17 years and one 16 year old on their roster. That is a younger team when you consider the BCHL a 19-20 year old league.
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The last meeting between the Kings and the Express was on December 5th in Powell River. The Kings peppered Khaleed Devji with 46 shots en route to a 4-0 victory. The score could of been higher if it wasn't for the superb goaltending of the Express netminder.

The Kings have won all three meetings between the Express this season, with two wins coming in Coquitlam. In the three games Powell River has outscored the Express 10-3. After tomorrow's game the teams meet two more times in February. The teams meet in Coquitlam on the 5th and back in Powell River on the 13th.

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