EXPRESS MIXLR BROADCAST

Monday, December 4, 2017

EXPRESS SNAP STREAK VS. GRIZZLIES

Jason Fortier has his first win as the Head Coach of the Coquitlam Express. It came in his third game behind the bench by a 6-2 score over the Victoria Grizzlies Sunday. Click here for boxscore

The win for the Express snapped their 15 game winless streak (0-14-1-0).

The Express were facing a road weary Victoria team that had played in Prince George and Vernon the previous two nights.

Early on it didn't look like Victoria was playing their third game of the weekend. They appeared to have opened the scoring off a won face-off in the Express zone in the opening minute. But upon further review by the officials it was deemed the deflection of the shot was contacted with a high stick.

Victoria didn't allow the no goal call to dissuade them. T.J. Friedman opened the scoring just shy of the 4 minute mark.

The red hot Eric Linell evened things up for the Express in the final minute of the first period scoring from the slot on a set up from captain Alex Ambrosio. The goal set off a frenzy of stuffed animals on the annual teddy bear toss night for the Express.

Justin Michealian tipped a pass home at the lip of the goal crease at 3:12 of the second period giving the Grizzlies their second lead of the night. That would be the final puck to get past goaltender Brock Hamm who shut the door the rest of the way to finish with 35 saves to post his first victory in the Express crease.

Just over two minutes after the Grizzlies goal, Linell struck again converting a set up in the blue paint from Jordan Schulting to tie the game at 2. The goal for Linell was his 15th of the season. By that point he had scored the last 5 Express goals dating back to Wednesday vs. Langley.

Christian Sanda, who appears to be a little rejuvenated lately gave the Express their first lead banging home a rebound to give the Express a 3-2 lead they would carry into the third period.

Jordan Schulting gave the Express some insurance early in the third jumping into the play and found a loose puck in the Victoria crease for his third of the season.

Sunday was a career day for Express captain Alex Ambrosio. He had a four point game with one goal and three assists. He capped off his memorable afternoon with a strong defensive play then rushing the puck up the ice and outwaited Victoria goaltender Bryce Schiebel and slid the puck home for a 5-2 Express lead.

Colby Pederson rounded out the scoring for the Express hitting the empty net with 1;53 to play. The 6 Express goals was a new single game high.

They're now 1-1-1-0 for three points since the coaching change. In that time they've only allowed 7 goals for an average of less than 3 per night in the short period of time.

The Express will seek their first road win of the season Wednesday when they travel to Vernon. 

No comments: