The Coquitlam Express shut out the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings 2-0 Friday night to take a 2-1 series lead in their BCHL Mainland Division semifinal tilt.
Cody Boyd's unassisted goal in the second period proved to be the winner for the Express in Game 3 of the best-of-seven playoff series in Coquitlam.
Prince George came out firing on all cylinders in the first 20 minutes, outshooting Coquitlam 13-11 to end the period in a scoreless 0-0 tie.
The Express got on the board first when Boyd's shot went through the legs of Kings netminder Alex Murray at the 3:11 mark of the middle frame.
Forward Bo Pieper added the dagger to the Kings heart with two minutes remaining in the third period after Justin Rai turned the puck over.
Express netminder Gordie Defiel turned aside all 24 shots he faced, while Murray stopped 27 of 29 shots.
Friday's tilt was the first in five where the game did not end in a 3-2 score.
The two teams meet again tonight for Game 4 in Coquitlam.
The Kings have been rocked by injuries in the last week, having lost two of their top forwards and one of their top defencemen.
Prince George captain Bryant Christian took a puck in the mouth in Game 1 on Tuesday and did not make the trip to the Lower Mainland this weekend. Defenceman Karan Toor suffered a lower-body injury in Game 2 Wednesday.
The team was already without key forward Brent Lashuk who blew out his knee on the last weekend of the regular season.
That forced alternate players Roshen Jaswal and Austin Gray into the lineup.
The series returns to Prince George Monday for Game 5 at the Coliseum, 7 p.m. Game 6, if necessary, goes Tuesday in Coquitlam.