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Friday, January 30, 2015

EXPRESS CRUISE TO THIRD STRAIGHT WIN

The Express did what they needed to do in the first 40 minutes en route to their third straight win 5-2 over the Surrey Eagles. The win was also the 4th straight win on home ice and 5th straight vs. Surrey this season. Click here for box score

The defending BCHL champions also clinched a playoff spot in the process.

An evenly played first period saw the score even at one after the opening frame. Corey Mackin scored his first of two on the night by ripping a shot over the glove of Christian Short on the powerplay.

Exactly three minutes later a rare Chris Tai mistake on this night resulted in a turnover and Ben Vikich scoring his 14th of the season as Tai scrambled to get back into his net.

Early in the second period the teams traded goals again as Daniell Lange scored just under two minutes in as his wrist shot from the left wing found the net for his 8th of the season. Lange would later chip in with an assist for a two point night to earn second star honours.

Just 60 seconds after that Tyler Harkins scored his first of the season from a sharp angle on Chris Tai to even things up at two.

Friday saw the return of Colton Kerfoot after missing the last two months with an injury. He got on the scoresheet as he and Michael Merulla teamed up to set up Jivan Sidhu joining the rush and he scored beating Short upstairs as he was going down. Michael Merulla finished with a a pair of helpers and was named third star.

Then the Express delivered the knockout blow to the Eagles. Thanks to the top two scorers in the BCHL.

Brett Supinski made Express history by scoring his 40th of the season shorthanded for a 4-2 lead by finishing off a wrap around. It's the first time in Express history that two players have scored 40 goals in a season.

Then 34 seconds later Mackin also set some Express history by scoring his 8th shorthanded goal of the season for a 5-2 lead and his 43rd goal of the season. Mackin breaks the record he shared with Kyle Turris for most shorthanded goals in a season which was originally set back in the 05-06 season.

The Express also surpassed the Victoria Grizzlies for the BCHL lead with 12 shorthanded goals on the season. The Express led the league in that category last season by tying a franchise record by scoring 19 goals when a man down.

The offense had done it's part by the time the third period rolled around. Some chippiness creeped into the game in the final minutes of the third period with the final outcome decided.

The Express have the rest of the weekend off before returning to action Wednesday night when they will host the Chilliwack Chiefs.

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