EXPRESS 3 CENTENNIALS 2

Josh Wildauer and Sam Kozlowski
Photo courtesy of Damon James

The Express completed a season sweep of the Merritt Centennials with a 3-2 home ice win Wednesday night. Click here for boxscore

They got contributions from three unlikely goal scorers to pace the offensive attack. At the other end, Clay Stevenson was solid, most notably when the game was on the line in the third period.

Jack Lippis made his Express debut - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Wednesday's meeting also marked the Express debuts for forwards Jack Lippis and Jack MacNab. They were acquired by the Express earlier in the day in separate trades with the Wenatchee Wild and Nanaimo Clippers deals that saw future considerations go the other way.

MacNab had a two chances for the Express off the rush in the first period.

With the acquisitions of MacNab and Lippis that now gives the Express three players whose first name all starts with the name Jack. It was the longest serving Jack on the Express roster who opened the scoring. Josh Wildauer on the power play slid the puck to Jack Graham who slid the puck through the pads of Austin Roden.

Henry Cleghorn evened the game at one for Merritt finding a loose puck in front of the net and sliding it under Clay Stevenson.

The Express were called for three separate minors in the opening 11 minutes of the second period. The penalty killing which had a good night shut down the Centennials on each opportunity. In fact the Express held Merritt without a shot for the first 14 minutes of the second period. Their best chance never counted as a shot on goal as Matthew Kopperud beat Stevenson with a quick wrist shot, but rang it off the post.

One of the newcomers Jack Lippis had a hand in helping get the Express their second lead of the night. He skated the puck into the Merritt zone dishing it to Josh Bruce who set up Eric Linell who put a shot off the post. Troy Robillard playing in his 100th career BCHL game joined the rush and scored on the rebound for a 2-1 Express lead.

That goal was followed just 1:10 later by a goal from Lucas Wong who scored on a set up by Christian Sanda in the slot. The goals for both Wong and Robillard were their second of the season.

The task for the Express entering the third period was to protect their two goal lead. They faced a Merritt squad that was determined to claw their way back into it.

Lucas Wong scored the GWG - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Halfway through the period they took advantage of a turnover deep in the Express zone and Nick Wicks set up Bradley Cocca who scored to cut the Express lead to 3-2.

It was around this time that Express Head Coach Jason Fortier sensed his team needed to relax and re-focus on the task at hand. He called his timeout to reset their responsibilities defensively.

Kopperud put a second shot off the goal post in the 3rd period. Tyrell Buckley also snapped a shot off the post in the final frame.

The final test for the Express came in the final minutes of the game when Josh Wildauer was called for holding with 2:08 to play.

It was at this time Stevenson's play really shined. He made his best save of the game getting his left pad across to deny Zach Zorn with just over a minute to play. Stevenson finished with 20 saves. And in the two games vs. Merritt in the last week he turned aside 53 of 57 shots in a pair of Express wins.

The Express finished the night perfect on the night killing off all 6 Merritt powerplays.

Up next the Express will host the Trail Smoke Eaters on Friday night.