EXPRESS MIXLR BROADCAST

Thursday, January 16, 2014

EXPRESS PICK UP 1ST WIN OF 2014

Canon Pieper, Corey Mackin and Ryan Rosenthal each scored a pair of goals part of a 7-3 win for the Express over the Surrey Eagles Wednesday night.

It was the first win of 2014 for the Express who were winless in their last 3 games (0-2-1) entering Wednesday's contest.

It was a solid team effort from top to bottom for the Express.

All 4 lines had a role in the win as did the 6 defense. Goaltender Gordie Defeil was steady in the Express crease with 32 saves and added an assist for good measure.

The Express power play was firing early to put the home team into an early lead.

Corey Mackin banged home the rebound of a Zach Hodder shot to open the scoring. That was followed by another power play goal 5 minutes later from Canon Pieper to put the Express up 2-0 before the game was 9 minutes old.

Surrey pulled even before the period was done as Danton Heinen scored on a 2 on 1 snapping it through the legs of Gordie Defiel. That was followed by Nathan Renouf walking out from behind the Express net and scoring on a backhand past Defiel in the final minute of the first period.

In the second period the Express started to pull away from a young Eagles squad that traded Nic Pieriog, Luke Sandler and captain Brett Mulcahy leading up to the January 10th trade deadline to get younger and acquire assets that will be helpful in the years ahead.

Jace Hennig and Canon Pieper with his second of the night on scrambles added to the Express lead. Canon's goal was his 24th of the season which briefly put him in the team lead for goals.

Corey Mackin then added his second of the night snapping the puck through the legs of Bo Didur for his 20th goal of the season to become the 3rd member of the Express this season to hit the 20 goal mark.

Captain Ryan Rosenthal was on the receiving end of a pair of nice set ups by Adam Rockwood which led to of Express goals in the third.

Rockwood who had 4 assists, first cut across the blue line then hooked the puck behind him to find a streaking Rosenthal who walked in and roofed it over the glove of Didur. That was followed minutes later by some serious sauce dished out by Rockwood to lay the puck up high then have it land flat for Rosenthal who in tight deked past Didur for his second of the night and 25th of the season to re-claim the Express lead in the goal department.

Braeden Russell rounded out the scoring with a late power play goal for Surrey. It was the first power play goal allowed by the Express of 2014 snapping a run of 16 consecutive successful kills.

The win opened up a 6 point lead for the Express over Surrey for 3rd place in the Mainland division.

Up next is a home and home with the Chilliwack Chiefs starting Friday in Coquitlam. 

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