It's amazing how things have changed for this Express team. Not too long ago we were talking about a team that was averaging 7 goals for per game during a 4 game stretch.
Now they have scored 1 goal in each of their last 3 games.
The Express knew they were facing one of their toughest challenges of the season. The Kings entered the contest as the best defensive team in the BCHL. Powell River has allowed just 34 goals this season for a team goals against average of 1.8.
Coquitlam knew they had to bury the few chances that they would get. And goaltender Luke Hernandez had to have one of his best performances of the season that allowed his team to have a chance to win.
Powell River opened the scoring on Jon Jutzi's screened point shot that beat Hernandez to the short side.
Jason Grecica thought he pulled the Express even midway through the first, but he contacted the puck with a high stick just before he put it in the net.
Riley Mcintosh tallied for the Express just before the period was done when he jumped into the rush and wired a wrist shot past Micheal Garteig for his 3rd goal of the season.
The game remained tied at one until early in the 3rd period.
With Matt Mazzarolo sitting in the penalty box for hooking, Powell River won the ensuing faceoff and Mike Sones tipped Justin Dasilva's point shot past a screened Hernandez to give Powell River a 2-1 lead.
Coquitlam had a great chance to pull even when they had a two man advantage for a full two minutes.
The Express couldn't convert on the glorious opportunity as they looked for the perfect play which never truly materialized.
The Kings killed off the powerplay and killed the Express' chances at a comeback. That capped a night that saw the Express go 0 for 5 on the powerplay. Now the man advantage is a frigid 1 for 26 in the last 5 games.
Special teams continues to be a difference maker for the Express. The penalty killing has been pretty solid as of late. However, the game winning goal did come on a powerplay.
The penalty killing has killed of 21 of the last 25 shorthanded situations.
At this point of the season the question becomes, where has the offence gone? The Express top offensive weapons for the most part have disappeared.
Veteran Brad Reid who is second in team scoring has just 1 assist in his last 5 games. And he has just one goal in his last 8 games.
Destry Straight has just 2 assists since his 3 goal 1 assist performance 6 games ago. A 7-5 win in Surrey.
Garrick Perry is pointless in his last 3 games, 1 assist in his last 4, and 1 goal in his last 6 games.
Jason Grecica has just 1 assist in his last 4 games. And is goal less in 5.
Massimo Lamacchia was doing his part to contribute, but now he has no points in his last 2 games.
Those are the top 5 goal scorers on the Express and a fair amount of the offensive responsibility falls on their shoulders.
I can guarantee you that if their names were seen more regularly on the scoresheet in the last 6 games, we wouldn't be discussing a losing streak this long.
Then when you consider that 4 of the 6 games during this losing streak have been decided by one goal. And another was a two goal game that was iced with an empty net marker.
It's not time to panic and make drastic changes, a break or two and if there was some finish with these chances the Express fortunes will turn around.
At some point however, the moral victories can no longer be tolerated and results are required. Right now the Express aren't getting the results they need.
I want to make it clear that the Express aren't getting poorly out played every single night. However, this run is having an impact on the Express positioning in the standings. They have now dropped to 6th place in the Coastal Conference. And the Nanaimo Clippers in 7th aren't that far behind just 4 points back with 3 games in hand.
The Express now have a week to prepare for a 2 game Interior road trip to Westside and Salmon Arm starting Friday.
Massimo Lamacchia was doing his part to contribute, but now he has no points in his last 2 games.
Those are the top 5 goal scorers on the Express and a fair amount of the offensive responsibility falls on their shoulders.
I can guarantee you that if their names were seen more regularly on the scoresheet in the last 6 games, we wouldn't be discussing a losing streak this long.
Then when you consider that 4 of the 6 games during this losing streak have been decided by one goal. And another was a two goal game that was iced with an empty net marker.
It's not time to panic and make drastic changes, a break or two and if there was some finish with these chances the Express fortunes will turn around.
At some point however, the moral victories can no longer be tolerated and results are required. Right now the Express aren't getting the results they need.
I want to make it clear that the Express aren't getting poorly out played every single night. However, this run is having an impact on the Express positioning in the standings. They have now dropped to 6th place in the Coastal Conference. And the Nanaimo Clippers in 7th aren't that far behind just 4 points back with 3 games in hand.
The Express now have a week to prepare for a 2 game Interior road trip to Westside and Salmon Arm starting Friday.
4 comments:
I'm disappointed the Express are on such a long losing streak, but we have a great team this year that will pull through. Our best players just need to be our best players, and we can still make the playoffs.
By the way, do you have any idea whether the Express will be selling hats? I've looked at the merchandise table almost every game and I haven't seen them.
Sorry, I don't know anything about hats. But I can ask on your behalf.
Hopefully the boys can snap out of it this weekend.
Thanks, I appreciate that. I went to an Express game out in Langley, and they had a great merchandise set up there. Would be neat to see more Express items available.
I'm hoping they will too. It would be awesome to see the team have a successful first year back here in Coquitlam. I'm confident they have the talent to finish strong.
Sounds like they are on their way. Just taking a little longer than expected.
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