EXPRESS MIXLR BROADCAST

Friday, August 24, 2018

RIVERMEN 4 EXPRESS 1

The Langley Rivermen picked up their second exhibition win this week over the Express with a 4-1 win Friday night in Langley. It was the third straight wins in as many games for the Rivermen in exhibition play.

The Express dressed a few more of their veteran players including Christian Sanda, Sam Kozlowski, Chase Danol and Jonathan Sheardown. It was also the first games of the pre-season for Pito Walton, Jack Cameron and Drew Cooper on the backend.


Each team was 0 for 2 on the powerplay in the first period. The Express shut down Langley's two advantages which included 30 seconds of 5 on 3 time.

Daneel Latagen opened the scoring in the final seconds of the first period snapping a shot that went through the legs of Express starter Thomas Wardle.

Wardle split the game with Kolby Matthews equally and the Rivermen also went with a 50/50 split with Alex Rolfe and Matthew Trulsen.

With the teams skating at 4 on 4, an Express turnover at the Rivermen blueline resulted in a chance on the counter attack and Ethan Leyh buried the rebound of a Conner Merrill shot for a 2-0 lead at 11:43.  Langley had a 25-8 advantage in shots after 40 minutes.

Just shy of the 5 minute mark of the third period a Christian Sanda goal was waved off due to a high stick.

Seconds later Kolby Matthews made the save of the night diving to his left to get a pad on a Ethan Leyh chance.

Just prior to the midway mark of the third period the Express got on the board thanks to a heads up pass from behind the net by Cooper Connell who teed up a pass for Chase Danol who blasted home a shot for his first goal of the exhibition at 8:52.

A late Express penalty in the final minutes was converted on the powerplay by the Rivermen thanks to a beautiful shot by Reed Stark ripping it over the glove of Matthews to seal the game at 18:07. Langley finished 1 for 6 unofficially on the powerplay. I had the Express 0 for 4 on the night.

Daneel Latagen rounded out the scoring with an empty net goal at 19:55.

The exhibition for the Express continues Tuesday night when they will take on the defending RBC cup champion Chilliwack Chiefs in Hope. 

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