It was 30 games in the making, but finally for the first time since 2015 the Express can say they have defeated the Chilliwack Chiefs following the 5-1 win Friday night. Click here for boxscore
The win snapped a 29 game winless streak to the Chiefs for the Express who were 0-28-1-0 during that time combining regular season and playoff meetings. Friday's win was the first win vs the Chiefs since game 3 of the 2015 first round series between the Express and Chiefs.
During the last three games that saw the Express go 1-2, they were prone to slow starts and spotting teams early leads. Tonight the Express were determined to not have that happen. And they proved it right from the drop of the puck and never let up the rest of the night.
Alex DiPaolo started a fantastic night by going to the net and have a Troy Robillard shot from the point bounce right to the Express forward who buried the rebound for a 1-0 Express lead just shy of the two minute mark.
That was followed the next shift by Josh Bruce, Danny Pearson and Cooper Connell working the play in the Chiefs end of the ice and the Express had found a good early rhythm.
Former Chilliwack Chief Regan Kimens played a big role expanding the Express lead to 2-0. To begin with he delivered a heavy hit on the forecheck. Then moments later he kept a Chiefs clearing attempt in the zone and then set up Dallas Farrell at the side of the net where he tipped home the pass for a 2-0 Express lead.
At the other end Kolby Matthews made his 7th straight start in the Express net. His best save of the first period came off Kevin Wall on a Chiefs first period powerplay by coming to his left to make a fine pad save.
Nick Wildgoose came close to putting the Express up by 3 midway through the first period but couldn't jam the puck under Chiefs goaltender Mathieu Caron. But Caron's best save came on a Alex DiPaolo wraparound with the Express shorthanded.
Friday was another strong night for the Express who are back as the top penalty killing team in the BCHL. They shut down two Chiefs powerplays in the opening half of the second period. The Express finished a perfect 6 for 6 on the penalty killing unit.
8 minutes into the second period saw Ethan Bowen and Sklyer Brind'Amour team up on a give and go and Brind'Amour re-directed the return pass over the pad of Kolby Matthews to cut the Express lead to 2-1.
Minutes later Chiefs forward Harrison Blaisdell was nailed for a double minor high sticking penalty on the forecheck. On the second of those powerplays the Express found Chase Danol in the slot who snapped his 7th of the season which ties him with Alex DiPaolo for tops on the Express in goals and a 3-1 lead.
Just prior to that goal DiPaolo was robbed for a second time by a great diving glove save by Mathieu Caron.
In the third period the Express never gave Chilliwack a sniff to claw back in this game. Their strong execution of their system allowed the Express to spend the majority of the game in the Chiefs end of the ice.
In the third period Alex DiPaolo was having the puck find him and he then found himself alone in front of the Chiefs net, his chance was denied by Caron but Danny Pearson buried the rebound for insurance early in the frame.
The Express got a scare late in the game when Carter Wilkie cut hard to the net and had a collision with goaltender Kolby Matthews. On the play Wilkie was called for a 5 minute major penalty for a blow to the head. Matthews was fine on the play.
On the powerplay the game was put on ice by Regan Kimens who scored with just over a minute to play to make it a 5-1 final. The Express finished 2 for 6 on the powerplay.
32-22 were the final shots in favour of the Express who limited Chilliwack to just 4 shots in the 3rd period.
The Express return to action Sunday afternoon when they host Nanaimo.
The win snapped a 29 game winless streak to the Chiefs for the Express who were 0-28-1-0 during that time combining regular season and playoff meetings. Friday's win was the first win vs the Chiefs since game 3 of the 2015 first round series between the Express and Chiefs.
During the last three games that saw the Express go 1-2, they were prone to slow starts and spotting teams early leads. Tonight the Express were determined to not have that happen. And they proved it right from the drop of the puck and never let up the rest of the night.
Alex DiPaolo started a fantastic night by going to the net and have a Troy Robillard shot from the point bounce right to the Express forward who buried the rebound for a 1-0 Express lead just shy of the two minute mark.
That was followed the next shift by Josh Bruce, Danny Pearson and Cooper Connell working the play in the Chiefs end of the ice and the Express had found a good early rhythm.
Former Chilliwack Chief Regan Kimens played a big role expanding the Express lead to 2-0. To begin with he delivered a heavy hit on the forecheck. Then moments later he kept a Chiefs clearing attempt in the zone and then set up Dallas Farrell at the side of the net where he tipped home the pass for a 2-0 Express lead.
At the other end Kolby Matthews made his 7th straight start in the Express net. His best save of the first period came off Kevin Wall on a Chiefs first period powerplay by coming to his left to make a fine pad save.
Nick Wildgoose came close to putting the Express up by 3 midway through the first period but couldn't jam the puck under Chiefs goaltender Mathieu Caron. But Caron's best save came on a Alex DiPaolo wraparound with the Express shorthanded.
Friday was another strong night for the Express who are back as the top penalty killing team in the BCHL. They shut down two Chiefs powerplays in the opening half of the second period. The Express finished a perfect 6 for 6 on the penalty killing unit.
8 minutes into the second period saw Ethan Bowen and Sklyer Brind'Amour team up on a give and go and Brind'Amour re-directed the return pass over the pad of Kolby Matthews to cut the Express lead to 2-1.
Minutes later Chiefs forward Harrison Blaisdell was nailed for a double minor high sticking penalty on the forecheck. On the second of those powerplays the Express found Chase Danol in the slot who snapped his 7th of the season which ties him with Alex DiPaolo for tops on the Express in goals and a 3-1 lead.
Just prior to that goal DiPaolo was robbed for a second time by a great diving glove save by Mathieu Caron.
In the third period the Express never gave Chilliwack a sniff to claw back in this game. Their strong execution of their system allowed the Express to spend the majority of the game in the Chiefs end of the ice.
In the third period Alex DiPaolo was having the puck find him and he then found himself alone in front of the Chiefs net, his chance was denied by Caron but Danny Pearson buried the rebound for insurance early in the frame.
The Express got a scare late in the game when Carter Wilkie cut hard to the net and had a collision with goaltender Kolby Matthews. On the play Wilkie was called for a 5 minute major penalty for a blow to the head. Matthews was fine on the play.
On the powerplay the game was put on ice by Regan Kimens who scored with just over a minute to play to make it a 5-1 final. The Express finished 2 for 6 on the powerplay.
32-22 were the final shots in favour of the Express who limited Chilliwack to just 4 shots in the 3rd period.
The Express return to action Sunday afternoon when they host Nanaimo.
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