Coming off an 8 goal performance in their exhibition opener Sunday vs. Wenatchee, the Express followed up in their second exhibition game by hitting double digits in a 10-4 win over the Surrey Eagles.
Not only was this game filled with offence, it also had a few moments where the tempers were short.
The first period was scoreless. But it had it's moments. Ryan Tattle snapped a shot off the post from the left wing. Christian MacDougall had a quick shot through the screen of an Eagles defender.
With the Express shorthanded, Tyler Schleppe was hauled down on a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot. On the free pass he went to the forehand, but couldn't stuff the puck past Eagles starter Cal Schell.
Then in the final minute of the period Christian MacDougall was trying to get himself free out of the corner, and was tangled up with Cade Alami and the two dropped the gloves bringing an end to their respective nights.
The second period saw the Eagles get into penalty trouble only to see the Express take advantage.
Adam Trotman converted a cross ice pass from Gregory Lapointe on a 5 on 3 advantage to open the scoring on Trotman's 3rd goal of the pre-season.
Three minutes later Ryan Tattle got his big night going by cutting into the slot and snapping home a quick shot for a 2-0 Express lead.
Midway through the period Gregory Lapointe scored the Express second powerplay goal of the period for a 3-0 lead. The shots were 13-3 in favour of the Express by the midway mark of the second period.
By this point in the game, the Express were taking full advantage of the international size ice to allow their skating and quick puck movement to really push the pace of the game that Surrey had trouble keeping up with.
Princeton committed defenceman Nick Carabin scored the Express third powerplay goal of the frame for a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes. The Express dominated the shots on goal in that period with a 22-9 advantage over the Eagles.
Clay Stevenson got the call and went the distance for the Express in the cage. He was beaten for the first time early in the third period when Holden Katzalay rammed home a loose puck for a powerplay goal.
The lead was quickly back up to four for the Express just 17 seconds later when Luke Burke jammed in a loose puck at the side of the Eagles net.
Forward Christian Lowe was one of the smallest players in the game. But he left his mark throughout the night by blocking a couple of shots in the first two periods. And delivering a hit to help get the puck out of the zone.
He was rewarded in the third period by converting on a breakaway to open up the Express lead to 6-1.
Connor Gregga tallied his first of the pre-season 40 seconds later taking a pass from Ryan Tattle snapping the 7th Express goal of the night that brought an end to Cal Schell's evening after 7 goals on 35 shots.
At this point the puck was finding Ryan Tattle all over the ice. He fired a shot over the net moments later on a breakaway. Then he intercepted a pass up the middle and scored his second of the game for 8-1 Express lead.
Now with the score 8-2, Tattle completed the Gordie Howe hat-trick after mixing it up with Jimmy Darby.
Captain Drew Cooper set up Josh Wildauer at the side of the Eagles net for a 9-2 Express lead.
Then a minute later Connor Gregga scored his second of the night to hit double digits. The Express have scored 18 goals in their first two pre-season games.
Surrey finally rounded out the scoring with two goals 89 seconds apart to make it a 10-4 final.
The Express peppered the Surrey net with 43 shots. Clay Stevenson faced 31 Eagles shots on the night. The powerplay was deadly all night finishing 4 for 7. Surrey went 2 for 4.
Exhibition continues on Wednesday night when the Express visit the Langley Rivermen.
Not only was this game filled with offence, it also had a few moments where the tempers were short.
The first period was scoreless. But it had it's moments. Ryan Tattle snapped a shot off the post from the left wing. Christian MacDougall had a quick shot through the screen of an Eagles defender.
With the Express shorthanded, Tyler Schleppe was hauled down on a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot. On the free pass he went to the forehand, but couldn't stuff the puck past Eagles starter Cal Schell.
Then in the final minute of the period Christian MacDougall was trying to get himself free out of the corner, and was tangled up with Cade Alami and the two dropped the gloves bringing an end to their respective nights.
The second period saw the Eagles get into penalty trouble only to see the Express take advantage.
Adam Trotman converted a cross ice pass from Gregory Lapointe on a 5 on 3 advantage to open the scoring on Trotman's 3rd goal of the pre-season.
Three minutes later Ryan Tattle got his big night going by cutting into the slot and snapping home a quick shot for a 2-0 Express lead.
Midway through the period Gregory Lapointe scored the Express second powerplay goal of the period for a 3-0 lead. The shots were 13-3 in favour of the Express by the midway mark of the second period.
By this point in the game, the Express were taking full advantage of the international size ice to allow their skating and quick puck movement to really push the pace of the game that Surrey had trouble keeping up with.
Princeton committed defenceman Nick Carabin scored the Express third powerplay goal of the frame for a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes. The Express dominated the shots on goal in that period with a 22-9 advantage over the Eagles.
Clay Stevenson got the call and went the distance for the Express in the cage. He was beaten for the first time early in the third period when Holden Katzalay rammed home a loose puck for a powerplay goal.
The lead was quickly back up to four for the Express just 17 seconds later when Luke Burke jammed in a loose puck at the side of the Eagles net.
Forward Christian Lowe was one of the smallest players in the game. But he left his mark throughout the night by blocking a couple of shots in the first two periods. And delivering a hit to help get the puck out of the zone.
He was rewarded in the third period by converting on a breakaway to open up the Express lead to 6-1.
Connor Gregga tallied his first of the pre-season 40 seconds later taking a pass from Ryan Tattle snapping the 7th Express goal of the night that brought an end to Cal Schell's evening after 7 goals on 35 shots.
At this point the puck was finding Ryan Tattle all over the ice. He fired a shot over the net moments later on a breakaway. Then he intercepted a pass up the middle and scored his second of the game for 8-1 Express lead.
Now with the score 8-2, Tattle completed the Gordie Howe hat-trick after mixing it up with Jimmy Darby.
Captain Drew Cooper set up Josh Wildauer at the side of the Eagles net for a 9-2 Express lead.
Then a minute later Connor Gregga scored his second of the night to hit double digits. The Express have scored 18 goals in their first two pre-season games.
Surrey finally rounded out the scoring with two goals 89 seconds apart to make it a 10-4 final.
The Express peppered the Surrey net with 43 shots. Clay Stevenson faced 31 Eagles shots on the night. The powerplay was deadly all night finishing 4 for 7. Surrey went 2 for 4.
Exhibition continues on Wednesday night when the Express visit the Langley Rivermen.
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