EXPRESS END 2014 WITH A BANG

Express celebrate the 8-1 win.

The Coquitlam Express capped off 2014 with a three game winning streak.  Unlike their previous two wins when they needed Brett Supinski to score in double overtime to get the win, Wednesday night in Merritt they steamrolled the Centennials 8-1.Click here for boxscore

Corey Mackin picked up right where he left off before Christmas with his 4th hat trick of the season and four points to pace the Express attack. 

He helped get things rolling as he helped former Centennial Brendan Lamont to open the scoring with a shorthanded goal just 1:28 into the game.

Mackin was flying in the first period. He had a shorthanded breakaway moments later but was denied by Jonah Imoo as he tried to slide a backhand in the five hole.

Dustin Johnson scored what would turn out to be the lone goal for Merritt at the side of Express goaltender Chris Tai.

From that point forward it was all Express for the rest of the night.

Corey Mackin scored his first of the night a minute after Merritt's tally with a goal from the corner that bounced off Imoo and in.

That was quickly followed by Daniell Lange's 5th of the season pouncing on a loose puck in front. 

Then Mackin would make his second breakaway of the first period count as he snapped a wrister between the pads of Imoo and a 4-1 Express advantage.  That goal ended Imoo's night early after allowing 4 goals on 12 shots.

The Express would get to his replacement Anthony Pupplo in the second period.

Brett Supinski scored his 25th of the season banging home the rebound of a Austin Anselmo point shot.

Then Cody Boyd made ammends for his 14 PIM's in the first period by scoring from the left circle for a 6-1 Express lead.

Mackin completed the hat-trick with a 5 on 3 goal at the side of the Merritt net. The BCHL scoring leader now has 63 points on the season 11 points clear of West Kelowna's Liam Blackburn.  Plus he's sitting at 35 goals in 36 games.

Jackson Cressey hammered the final nail in Merritt's coffin by scoring the final Express goal on another 5 on 3 in the third period. 

Then with the final outcome determined tempers began to flare with three separate fights breaking out at different times in the third period involving Jivan Sidhu,  Dustin Cave and Noah Turanski. 

The most encouraging sign from the Express on this night was no signs whatsoever of a Christmas break hangover. They were on top of their game right from the start and carried it through to the end leaving no doubt who was coming away with the two points. 

The Express will begin 2015 with a home and home with the Langley Rivermen starting Friday in Coquitlam.