VEES TOO MUCH FOR EXPRESS

The BCHL's best team were too much for the Express to handle for the full 60 minutes in a 4-1 Penticton win Friday night.

The win completed a two game sweep of a home and home between the two teams. Penticton took the opener 5-2 in the South Okanagan Wednesday.

Right from the drop of the puck the Vees were too much for the Express to handle. Their speed and control of the play all night was the story of the game.

The Vees got off to a better start than they did the night before. They opened the scoring litte more than six minutes into the game when Chris Tai had trouble covering up the puck in the crease and Jack Ramsay pounced on the gaffe and poked the loose puck lying in the blue paint.

Before the first period was half over the Vees already had a 14-1 advantage in shots. They finished the night with 53 which sets a new season high for most shots allowed in a game for the Express. The previous mark was 51.

Penticton added two more goals in the second half of the first period on blasts from Gabe Bast and Lewis Zerter-Gossage on the powerplay for a 3-0 Vees lead heading to the second period.

Chris Tai was tickted with the loss, but were it not for his stellar play especially in the final two periods the score would have been more lopsided. He stopped 31 of the 32 shots sent his way in the final two periods. Including all 18 sent his way in the second period.

Tyson Jost scored the Vees fourth goal of the night three minutes into the third period.

Brett Supinski broke Hunter Miska's bid for his 5th shutout of the season midway through the third period set up by Corey Mackin and Austin Anselmo. That goal was the lone set back on a relatively easy night for Miska who faced just 21 Express shots. That number matches a season low for shots on goal for the Express this season.

The busy week of four games in five nights for the Express resumes Saturday in Nanaimo then heading down to the Island to Victoria on Sunday afternoon.

Defenceman Taylor Green (95) made his Express debut Friday night. He was acquired by the Express from Nanaimo in exchange for future considerations. The 6'7 blueliner comes to the Express with 144 career games of WHL experience with Seattle, Brandon and Moose Jaw. He played 7 games with Nanaimo this season picking up one assist.

The BCHL trade deadline is Saturday night at 6pm for trades outside the BCHL and 8pm for deals within the BCHL.