EXPRESS GET THEIR PAY BACK ON RIVERMEN

After dropping a 6-1 decision the night before in Coquitlam in the first of a home and home with the Langley Rivermen,  the Express got their pay back in Langley's home barn the Langley Events Centre with a 4-3 win.

Langley sent the Express the message it was going to be their night 24 hours earlier with their impressive start. Saturday the visitors made sure they were going to be better prepared. 

Brett Supinski got the Express on the board first when he ripped a wrist shot over the glove of Darren Martin. 

Throughout the night the Express had a number of odd man rushes that could have made the final outcome more decisive for the Express had they beem able to cash in on. One of the chances they did finish was a 2 on 1 between Brendan Lamont and Corey Mackin,  the veteran Lamont knowing he had the BCHL's top scorer with him showed his veteran experience by not forcing a pass to Mackin when he couldn't settle a rolling puck, he instead fired it and it handcuffed Martin for a 2-0 Express lead.

Hunter Anderson scored the lone goal of the second period as he walked out from behind the Express night and slid the puck under Chris Tai. 

By the time the third period rolled around Langley started to get the upper hand in shots on goal. But Chris Tai had settled in by that point for what would be a 36 save performance for his 11th win of the season.

Owen Stout gave the Express their second two goal lead of the night when he found a loose puck in the Rivermen crease to poke him after former Langley Riverman Brendan Gulka cut to the slot on the backhand.

But Langley kept on finding ways to make for a dramatic finish Saturday night. Gage Torrell made in a 4-3 game scoring on a rebound moments after Chris Tai was clearly bumped in his crease on the initial point shot.

Then Dustin Cave was called for boarding with less than four to play. It would be an anxious two minute visit to the box for him with his team protecting a one goal lead. But he felt much better after watching the BCHL scoring leader Corey Mackin who had been held pointless all night steal the puck at the Langley line and score his league leading 6th shorthanded goal of the season for a 4-2 Express lead.

Again Langley didn't go away as Rivermen captain Kevan Killistoff scored on a 6 on 4 Langley power play in the final minute to cut the lead back to one. That goal would be the lone blemish on a soilid night for the Express penalty killers who shut down 6 of 7 Rivermen advantages.   Killistoff's goal would be as close as they would come as the Express held on the rest of the way.

The win equalled the season series at 3 wins for each time.

Up next the Express have a busy week ahead with 4 games in 5 nights including a home and home with BCHL leading Penticton starting Wednesday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.  Then after the return game Friday in Coquitlam the Express hit the Island for games in Nanaimo and Victoria.