EXPRESS MIXLR BROADCAST

Sunday, March 4, 2012

RECORD SETTING WIN

The Coquitlam Express set a franchise record with their 35th win of the season 3-2 over the Nanaimo Clippers.

The win breaks the mark set in back to back years in 05-06 and 06-07. The win also keeps the Express perfect this season vs. Nanaimo having won all 6 head to head meetings.

Alex Petan kept up his strong weekend by opening the scoring on the powerplay less than 3 minutes into the game. He converted a nice pass by Justin Georgeson and slid it past Billy Faust.

The goal capped off a 7 point weekend for the Express captain. He had a hat-trick and scored the game winning goal in the 5-4 win over Langley Friday. Saturday he had a goal and 2 assists including helping set up Zach Hodder's game winner with 33 seconds left. Could those numbers be worthy of BCHL player of the week honours?

The first period saw a rare parade to the penalty box for the Express being shorthanded 4 times. Included in that was a 5 on 3 disadvantage for 38 seconds.

Josh Phillips scored just his second goal of the season from the slot to tie the game at one shortly after the 5 on 3 had expired.

Clinton Atkinson wrote his name into the Express record book in the second period. His powerplay goal was his 9th of the season. It was also his 55th point of the season which tied an Express franchise record for most points in a season by a defenceman set by Brad Hunt in the 07-08 season. Atkinson has picked up goals in 4 of his last 7 games.

Alex Kerfoot picked up his 41st assist on the goal. That helper set a new Express record for most assists in a season by a rookie breaking the mark of 40 set last season by Destry Straight.

The 4th powerplay goal of the game between the two teams pulled the Clippers even again at two. Graeme McCormack made a great back door pass to Andrew Gladiuk who slid it past Khaleed Devji.

The game remained tied at two until the midway mark of the third period. Zach Hodder fired a shot wide of the goal, it bounced off the end boards right to Justin Georgeson who snapped in the net and got just enough on it to find the net despite the best efforts of a Nanaimo defender to try and get a stick on Georgeson's shot and block it.

Khaleed Devji picked up his 4th career BCHL assist on the goal. He had 3 helpers in his first BCHL season last year.

The assist was a nice bonus on what was a very solid performance for the Express goaltender. He was steady all game long turning aside 40 of 42 Clipper shots sent his way.

This weekend was the 9th time this season the Express have played 3 games in 3 nights. The Express improved their record to a remarkable 6-3 in the 3rd game of the back to back to back sets.

Not much time to rest for the Express. They will rest up Monday before hitting the road for games in Victoria Tuesday and Wednesday in Nanaimo. They will then wrap up the regular season Friday vs. Chilliwack.

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