EXPRESS MIXLR BROADCAST

Saturday, March 3, 2012

EXPRESS CLUTCH UP FOR ANOTHER LATE WIN

It was deja vu all over again for the Express as they posted their second straight 5-4 win over the Langley Rivermen thanks to a late game winning goal to sweep the home and home.

Friday night it was Zach Hodder helping set up Alex Petan's game winning goal with 1:43 to go. Saturday night the roles were reversed as Petan helped set up Zach Hodder who scored the game winning goal with just 33 seconds left in the third period.

Again the Express were able to jump early on the Rivermen. This time around they were able to find their offence as Brady Shaw and AP Eric Margo scored first period goals for the Express. The extra skating room at the Langley Events Centre helped open up the game a little more. Coquitlam fired 21 first period shots on 16 year old Rivermen netminder Nic Renyard.

Friday the Express got goals 3:16 apart in the second period to cut into a 3-0 Rivermen lead. Saturday Mario Puskarich scored twice in a span of 3:17 by firing a pair of quick wristers past a screened Cole Huggins each time to tie the game at two.

Justin Georgeson put the Express back in the lead shortly thereafter on the powerplay as he took a feed from Petan and snapped it into an open net just 1:48 after Puskarich's 2-2 goal.

The teams kept trading goals in the third period. Peter McMullen snapped a wrist shot from the right wing by Cole Huggins.

Alex Petan put the Express back in the lead after taking a feed out of the corner from Mitch Nardi and snapping a shot top shelf for the captain's 36th goal of the season.

Less than a minute later however the game was tied again. Jackson Playfair tipped a Austin Plevy shot for a powerplay goal to tie the game at 4.

With the game on the line in the dying moments, Cole Huggins came up with the save of the game for the Express robbing Sebastien Pare in front of the net with a great glove save with about 3 minutes to go.

That save proved to be a game saver for the Express as in the final minute Zach Hodder read the play and pinched down from his right point position as was in the right spot to bang home a rebound to put the Express in the lead for good.

The win for the Express was their 34th of the season which ties the franchise record for most wins in a season set in both the 05-06 and 06-07 seasons.

Not much time to rest for the Express as they will play their third game in as many days Sunday afternoon vs. Nanaimo.


No comments: