EXPRESS SHUTOUT... AGAIN

B. Harris & D. Giunta - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Barry Wolff and the rest of the Express can't get some healthy bodies back in the lineup soon enough.

Saturday night with 8 players out of the lineup with suspension and injury they were shutout for a third time in their last four games falling 3-0 to the Wenatchee Wild.

Photo courtesy Damon James

Saturday the Express were only able to dress nine forwards. And despite the lack of reinforcements they did everything they could to at least keep the game close, but shortened lineup had trouble generating many offensive chances.

Dakota Raabe opened the scoring the Wild converting a feed from Matt Baker re-directing it past Reid Cooper for an early 1-0 lead.

Anthony Yamintsky only needed to make 14 saves to post the shutout for the Wild. His best work coming in the second period turning aside 9 Express shots.

One area where the Express hopefully would be able to make a difference with such a shorthanded lineup was the power play, but they finished the night 0 for 6.

Shortly after an Express power play came to an end in the third period the puck bounced into the middle of the ice in the Express zone and Colin Burston finished off a two on nothing break for a 2-0 Wild lead.

David Giunta - Photo courtesy of Damon James

The Express didn't threaten much in the third period. Their best chance never officially registered as a shot on goal as Blake Hayward rang a shot off the goal post.

AJ Vanderbeck capped off the scoring with a power play goal with just under three minutes remaining. Wenatchee finished 1 for 7 on the power play.

Reid Cooper took the lost, but had another strong game in the Express crease with 31 saves.

The Express 5 game home stand will resume Wednesday when the Express host West Kelowna.