Chilliwack goaltender Mathieu Caron is the sole reason why the Express didn't snap their 26 game losing streak to the Chiefs. He made a number of top notch saves that prevented the Express from coming away with the win. Click here for boxscore
Express Head Coach Jason Fortier made things a little more interesting in his pre-game comments saying tonight was the night the Chiefs long run of success against the Express was coming to an end Friday night.
Right from the get go the Express were generating chances. First it was Sam Kozlowski setting up Josh Wildauer on the slot was who denied on a clean look on the Chiefs net.
Then it was Eric Linell on a jam play in the Chiefs crease who was stopped by Caron who got his left pad down to rob the Express top scorer.
At the other end Chilliwack was able to take advantage of Express mistakes in their own end.
PJ Marroco pounced on a loose puck in the Express zone and beat Brock Hamm with a wrist shot low to the far post.
Hamm returned to the Express crease for his first game since the Christmas break.
At the 15:00 mark of the first period another Express turnover deep in their zone resulted in a 2 on 1 down low and Corey Andonovski slid a pass across to the newly re-acquired Ryan Bowen who tapped the feed into the gaping cage for a 2-0 Chilliwack lead.
Chilliwack carried their two goal lead into the second period which didn't dissuade the Express. They started to turn the game in the middle frame. And the chances were coming fast and furious.
Christian Sanda had a great game in all areas for the Express. He was using his speed effectively to create chances, he was also doing little things right in the defensive zone.
Sanda got the Express on the board taking a pass from Lucas Wong and outwaiting a sprawled out Caron then ripping his 6th of the season over the Chiefs goaltender.
That goal was followed by chances from John Sheardown stopped by the pad of Caron off the rush, Colby Pederson was stopped on a tip play, Haydn Delorme was robbed all alone in front of the Chilliwack net by Caron's left pad, Sam Kozlowski hit the post, and Josh Bruce ripped a shot just past the top corner on a odd man rush.
All those chances coming in the second period alone. But the Express still came out of the frame trailing 2-1.
The Express opened the third period on the power play. Then a minute into the advantage Sam Kozlowski got his stick up on Tommy Lee. Originally Kozlowski was assessed a minor for high sticking. Then after some further pleading from Lee the call was then changed to a double minor. Credit to the Express who killed off the power play and finished the night a perfect 4 for 4 on the penalty kill.
One of the areas that Head Coach Jason Fortier has really emphasized since taking over behind the bench is skill development. He's put in a lot of effort in practice in the little details. Notably tips.
That work paid off for the Express on the tying goal. John Sheardown fired a shot from the blueline that was tipped home by Haydn Delorme through the pads of Caron to even the game at 2 at 5:41. And that is where things stood after 60 minutes.
As the third period wound down, Christian Sanda had two notable shot blocks with his stick in the defensive zone. The second one broke his twig while deflecting the puck out of play.
For the Express it was the first time they've been able to take a point off of Chilliwack since February 26, 2015 a 4-3 overtime loss in Coquitlam. Since that game Chilliwack had won 14 straight games over the Express in regulation.
It was also the first time March 1, 2014 that the Express had picked up a point of any kind in Chilliwack in regulation. They had won 14 regular season home games to the Express without conceding a point to the visitors.
The Express began the overtime with a 4 on 3 advantage for 1:52 with Matt Slick assessed a high sticking penalty late in regulation.
On that power play the best chance came to Christian Sanda who heeled a one timer from the circle. Jordan Schulting also had a great chance from the slot but was turned back.
Then in 3 on 3 overtime things got really hectic. Josh Bruce had a 2 on 0 breakaway with Troy Robillard. Bruce slowed up on the play allowing Robillard to catch up, but he was robbed by the left pad by Caron on the pass from Bruce.
Then Bruce had another breakaway this time he was stopped by the pad of Caron.
At the other end Corey Andonovski rang a shot off the goal post in the final seconds of 3 on 3 OT as he tried outwait a sprawled out Brock Hamm. The Express goaltender finished with 30 saves on 32 Chiefs shots. His rival at the other end finished with 29 saves. Many of them of the difficult variety when you consider the quality of chances the Express were able to create.
Up next for the Express they host the Surrey Eagles Saturday night.
Express Head Coach Jason Fortier made things a little more interesting in his pre-game comments saying tonight was the night the Chiefs long run of success against the Express was coming to an end Friday night.
.@CoachForch on @Chiefs_Hockey 26 game overall winning streak and 20 game home ice winning streak (reg. season & playoffs vs. @BCHLExpress"I've inherited it, I'm going to own it. I think today's the day we're gonna break it. I really believe it, I feel it in my heart. "— Eddie Gregory (@EddieGregory81) January 13, 2018
Right from the get go the Express were generating chances. First it was Sam Kozlowski setting up Josh Wildauer on the slot was who denied on a clean look on the Chiefs net.
Then it was Eric Linell on a jam play in the Chiefs crease who was stopped by Caron who got his left pad down to rob the Express top scorer.
At the other end Chilliwack was able to take advantage of Express mistakes in their own end.
PJ Marroco pounced on a loose puck in the Express zone and beat Brock Hamm with a wrist shot low to the far post.
Hamm returned to the Express crease for his first game since the Christmas break.
At the 15:00 mark of the first period another Express turnover deep in their zone resulted in a 2 on 1 down low and Corey Andonovski slid a pass across to the newly re-acquired Ryan Bowen who tapped the feed into the gaping cage for a 2-0 Chilliwack lead.
Chilliwack carried their two goal lead into the second period which didn't dissuade the Express. They started to turn the game in the middle frame. And the chances were coming fast and furious.
Christian Sanda had a great game in all areas for the Express. He was using his speed effectively to create chances, he was also doing little things right in the defensive zone.
Sanda got the Express on the board taking a pass from Lucas Wong and outwaiting a sprawled out Caron then ripping his 6th of the season over the Chiefs goaltender.
That goal was followed by chances from John Sheardown stopped by the pad of Caron off the rush, Colby Pederson was stopped on a tip play, Haydn Delorme was robbed all alone in front of the Chilliwack net by Caron's left pad, Sam Kozlowski hit the post, and Josh Bruce ripped a shot just past the top corner on a odd man rush.
All those chances coming in the second period alone. But the Express still came out of the frame trailing 2-1.
The Express opened the third period on the power play. Then a minute into the advantage Sam Kozlowski got his stick up on Tommy Lee. Originally Kozlowski was assessed a minor for high sticking. Then after some further pleading from Lee the call was then changed to a double minor. Credit to the Express who killed off the power play and finished the night a perfect 4 for 4 on the penalty kill.
One of the areas that Head Coach Jason Fortier has really emphasized since taking over behind the bench is skill development. He's put in a lot of effort in practice in the little details. Notably tips.
That work paid off for the Express on the tying goal. John Sheardown fired a shot from the blueline that was tipped home by Haydn Delorme through the pads of Caron to even the game at 2 at 5:41. And that is where things stood after 60 minutes.
As the third period wound down, Christian Sanda had two notable shot blocks with his stick in the defensive zone. The second one broke his twig while deflecting the puck out of play.
For the Express it was the first time they've been able to take a point off of Chilliwack since February 26, 2015 a 4-3 overtime loss in Coquitlam. Since that game Chilliwack had won 14 straight games over the Express in regulation.
It was also the first time March 1, 2014 that the Express had picked up a point of any kind in Chilliwack in regulation. They had won 14 regular season home games to the Express without conceding a point to the visitors.
The Express began the overtime with a 4 on 3 advantage for 1:52 with Matt Slick assessed a high sticking penalty late in regulation.
On that power play the best chance came to Christian Sanda who heeled a one timer from the circle. Jordan Schulting also had a great chance from the slot but was turned back.
Then in 3 on 3 overtime things got really hectic. Josh Bruce had a 2 on 0 breakaway with Troy Robillard. Bruce slowed up on the play allowing Robillard to catch up, but he was robbed by the left pad by Caron on the pass from Bruce.
Then Bruce had another breakaway this time he was stopped by the pad of Caron.
At the other end Corey Andonovski rang a shot off the goal post in the final seconds of 3 on 3 OT as he tried outwait a sprawled out Brock Hamm. The Express goaltender finished with 30 saves on 32 Chiefs shots. His rival at the other end finished with 29 saves. Many of them of the difficult variety when you consider the quality of chances the Express were able to create.
Up next for the Express they host the Surrey Eagles Saturday night.
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