EXPRESS MIXLR BROADCAST

Sunday, December 6, 2009

CAPS PULL EVEN WITH EXPRESS

The Cowichan Valley Capitals pulled even with the Express for the 7th and final Coastal Conference playoff spot with a 4-1 win over the Express Sunday afternoon.

The Express had a chance to open up a 4 point lead on the Caps in the standings, but they let it slip through their hands with a lackluster effort Sunday.

Burnaby's penalty killers rose to the challenge early in the first period with the Express taking 3 straight penalties and killing them all off. Included in that, was a 5 on 3 for the Capitals for 1:20.

The game remained scoreless until the 2nd period when Nick Anderson set up Jackson Garrett on the powerplay for a tap in at the lip of the Express crease.

Buranby had a reply with a powerplay marker of their own, Jimmy Geerin fired a pass up to Kolby Kulhanek who set up Brad Reid who re-directed it home to tie the game at 1.

The goal for Reid was his 3rd in his last 2 games. And he now has 5 goals and 1 assist in his last 5. Jimmy Geerin meanwhile now has 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points in his last 9 outings.

Cowichan Valley re-stored their lead in the final minute of the 2nd period. Nick Anderson converted a Mike Hammond feed at 19:33.

When these two teams met 3 weeks ago in Cowichan, Laurent Brossoit put on a show in the third period stopping all 20 Express shots to seal a 35 save shutout a 3-0 Caps win.

A similar performance wasn't required Sunday. The 16 year old made the saves when called upon. Not too many of the 25 shots he faced were overly difficult. Brossoit has stopped 59 of 60 Express shots sent his way the last two games.

Cowichan Valley put the game away with goals by Nick Amies and Jackson Garrett's second of the game.

The Caps top line of Jackson Garrett, Mike Hammond and Nick Anderson all finished with 3 points. Garrett (2G, 1A), Anderson (1G, 2A) and Hammond (3A).

The Express and Caps are now even in the Coastal Conference standings with 21 points apiece. But Cowichan has the tie-breaker with 10 wins to 9 for Burnaby.

No comments: