EXPRESS EEK OUT WIN IN SURREY

It wasn't a thing of beauty, but the Express still got the desired result. A 2-1 win over the Surrey Eagles Friday night. This was a game where the Express didn't play a sharp game. Especially in the final 40 minutes.


The game began relatively evenly played between the two teams. The shots were 10-9 Burnaby in the fist period. The story of the opening 20 minutes was the play of the Express penalty killing. Burnaby was shorthanded 4 times including a 5 on 3 for over a minute. The Express penalty killing shut the Eagle attack down.

With all the powerplays Surrey had late in the first period, and into the 2nd. it gave them life and they started to carry the play. Express goaltender Harrison May was up to the challenge providing a calming presence in the Burnaby crease.

The games first goal came against the flow of the play as the American Express line of Garrick Perry, Rich Manley and Jon Puskar struck again as Perry found a loose puck in the slot and fired it past Eagles goaltender Vinny Lessard 7 minutes into the 2nd period. Puskar and Manley drew the assists on the goal. That line has scored 5 of the Express first 6 goals this season. And that trio has combined for 12 points. 4 points apiece.

The Eagles tied the game late in the 2nd period as Andrew Wallace put a cross ice pass on to the tape of a pinching Doug Marshall who fired a great shot top corner glove side on Harrison May.

Surrey began the third period like they did the second, with a powerplay. Luke Challier put a headlock on Eagles forward Andrew Wallace at the end of the period. Challier was given an extra two minutes. Once again, the Express penalty killing prevailed keeping the score tied.

Early in the third, Harrison May nearly gift wrapped the lead for the Eagles. He went out behind his net to play the puck, but lost it in his feet and it came in front of a wipe open net, Jason Grecica pounced on the loose puck, but May dove back and made a spectacular save with his stick to just get enough of it to keep it out. Captain Dylan Herold finished the job as he cleared the puck which was slowly dribbling to the Express net. Easily, a candidate for save of the year by Harrison May.

Moments later, the Express found themselves shorthanded again with Rich Manley in the box. At the time, you had to wonder if all the Express penalties were eventually going to come back to bite them. However, it was the Express breaking the deadlock shorthanded, Matt Ridley flipped the puck out of his own zone and it landed right on the stick of Garrick Perry who made no mistake scoring his 2nd goal of the game on a breakaway.

Hear Perry's game winning goal here.


Now with 12 minutes remaining in the third period, the Express found themselves in the same situation as one week ago in Cowichan Valley, protecting a one goal lead in the third period.

In the final 90 seconds, the Express were given an opportunity to put the game away with a powerplay. And it appeared they sealed the game away. The Express appeared to score a powerplay goal in the final minute, as they poked a loose puck that was sitting between the legs of Vinny Lessard, but referee Sean Raphael, waved the goal off. Much to the dismay of the Express. The call didn't end up having an impact on the outcome as the Express held on the rest of the way and came away with a 2-1 win.

The Express improved their record to 2-0 with the win.

It wasn't a pretty win for the Express. Is there room for improvement? sure. Over the course of a 60 game schedule, every team will have wins in their back pocket where the team doesn't play at their best. You could put this game into that category for Burnaby.

The Express have their penalty killing to thank. Killing off a 7 Eagle powerplays.

The Express passed another big test in the third period as they successfully protected a one goal lead in the third period for a second consecutive game.

Two wins on the road in the seasons opening two games is crucial for this team. It's always more difficult to win on the road. With 9 of the Express first 13 games on the road this season, learning how to win on the road now will help in the month of October when the Express visit Salmon Arm, Vernon, Penticton, Nanaimo and Powell River.

Shots:

Burnaby 21
Surrey 32

Powerplays:

Burnaby 0/4
Surrey 0/7

3 stars:

3 - Garrick Perry. Scored both Express goals. His game winning goal was a pure goal scorers goal beating Lessard on a breakaway.

2 - Grant Toulmin. One assist playing on Surrey's top line with Andrew Wallace and Chris Santiago.

1 - Harrison May. Great Express debut for the veteran goaltender. Stopped 31 of 32 shots and looked very steady doing so. Even came up with a save of the year candidate to keep the game tied at 1 in the third period.



Up next, home opener Saturday night vs. Powell River.