EXPRESS MIXLR BROADCAST

Friday, December 4, 2015

CHIEFS POUNCE ON FATIGUED EXPRESS

Chilliwack took advantage of an Express team playing it's third game in three nights in combination of a trip up to Prince George the night before and the final result was a 9-4 Chiefs win Friday night in Chilliwack. Click here for boxscore

Early on it didn't appear the Express were a tired group. They jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first four minutes.

Erik Udahl converted a 2 on 1 snapping home a set up from Cam Bertsch. That was followed a minute later by a goal from Jack Surowiec with a shot from the left wing beating Matteo Esposito.

That fast start woke Chilliwack up and they got their feet moving forcing the fatigued Express to try and keep up.

Jordan Kawaguchi scored twice in a span of 1:45 and the Express two goal lead was erased.

By then Chilliwack was well on their way controlling the puck in the Express end of the ice.

Zach Guittari beat Tyger Howat with a blast from the right point for a 3-2 Chiefs lead. Nearly two minutes later Chilliwack struck again on a goal by Kale Kane converting a pass from behind the net by Vimal Sukumaran.

The Express scored on their first two shots of the game. Then it took them over 14 minutes to register their next shot. Chilliwack outshot the Express 25-4 in the first period.

It was more of the same in the second period. Kawaguchi completed his hat-trick in the opening minute of the second period beating Howat with a wrist shot over his glove.

That goal brought an end to Howat's night after 5 goals on 26 shots. That comes on the heels of being forced to come in off the bench the night before midway through the game in Prince George.

Lawson Fenton came in and was quickly welcomed to the game with a fantastic scoring chance by Jesse Lansdell. That would be a sign of things to come as Fenton faced a countless number of high quality scoring chances in his two periods of relief.

Owen Stout scored for a second straight night with a power play goal to cut the Chiefs lead to 5-3.

It was 7-3 Chiefs after the second period following a two on one goal by Kane for his second of the night and a Vimal Sukumaran shorthanded breakaway goal.

Darien Craighead with a snap shot from the wing and Jake Smith with a wrist shot from the slot on the power play added to Chilliwack's lead in the third period before Colton Kerfoot rounded out the scoring on a power play.

Jordan Kawaguchi lead the way for the Chiefs with the hat-trick while defenseman Austin Adam had four helpers and Vimal Sukumaran had 1 goal and 2 assists.

Chilliwack finished with 57 shots to just 18 for the Express. The win extended Chilliwack's home ice winning streak over the Express to 10 straight games including the playoffs.

The Express get a much needed night off Saturday and time away from the bus before hosting Alberni Valley Sunday afternoon. 

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