RECAP: Manz notches three points in 5-3 win over Express

The Spruce Kings are back in the win column with a 5-3 victory over the Coquitlam Express, thanks to a pair of goals by forward Dustin Manz.

In the battle of the Cooper netminders, Bradley stopped 18 shots en route to his third consecutive win in his third start of the year, while Coquitlam’s Reid face a lot of high-octane offense by the ‘Kings, making 47 saves on 51 shots.

The lone goal of the opening period came off the tape of Manz just over the midway mark, the assists coming from Patrick Cozzi and Dylan Anhorn.

The middle frame got busy with four total lamps lit, starting with Ben Poisson nabbing his fourth of the season and 16-year-old rookie Corey Cunningham scoring his first career BCHL goal just 84 seconds later.

The milestone brought the red, white, and blue to a 3-0 lead, that is, until Coquitlam took advantage of a couple of power-plays, leading to their first two goals of the game for a 3-2 score after 40 minutes.

Manz would resurface a two-goal edge a little more than two minutes into the third period; the Express would get to within one tally of Prince George, but an empty-netter by Ben Brar was enough to get the ‘Kings a fifth victory of 2017-18.

Spruce Kings improve to 5-2-1-0; the Express are still winless at 0-6-1-0.

PG’s only mention in the Three Star honours went to Manz for his two goal, one assist performance, while Coquitlam’s Reid Cooper and Jordan Schulting went First and Third respectively.

Cooper faced 51 shots from the Northern army, which was rewarded with the Fortis BC Energy Player of the Game.

Prince George will look to be on the winning side of the their current 1-1 record on this three-game road-trip across the Lower Mainland, taking on the Merritt Centennials Sunday at 2PM from the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.

The Spruce Kings return home for a pair of games against the Surrey Eagles this Friday and Saturday; both with 7PM puck-drops.

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