EXPRESS MIXLR BROADCAST

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

EAGLES 5 EXPRESS 1

The Express are still in search of their first pre-season win through four games.

Thursday they dropped a 5-1 decision in Surrey.

Things started well for the Express with veteran Cal Babych setting up Eric Linell for a tap in to open the scoring just 1:28 into the game.

Then goaltender Nicolas Lee went to work in the Express crease. He made 14 first period saves to preserve the Express lead through 20 minutes. Most of his best work came in the opening 10 minutes of the frame shortly after the Express opened the scoring.

Mack Merriman scored his first of two on the night on the power play with a screen shot from the point to tie the game at one. Less than two minutes later Jackson Ross snapped home a shot to give Surrey a 2-1 lead.

Nicolas Lee split the goaltending duties with Robert Nawrot halfway through the game. Lee finished with 21 saves on 23 shots.

The Eagles added three in the third including Merriman's second of the night and singles from Chase Danol and Caige Sterzer to round out the scoring.

Among the players that caught my eye Jordan Schulting was playing with some happy legs skating up and down the ice. And Lucas Wong shows plenty of poise on the Express blueline.

The Eagles outshot the Express 36-24. The Express were 0 for 6 on the powerplay while Surrey went 1 for 4.

The teams will meet again in the exhibition finale for the Express Friday night in Poco. Then they will do it for real in the season opener for the Express Sunday September 10th in Surrey. 

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