The opening moments of the game showed the Express were ready to play and showed they were determined to give a strong effort for the full 60 minutes.
The line of Alex Petan, Taylor Bourne and Malcom McKinney got the proceedings going on the first shift of the game with McKinney scoring just 17 seconds into the contest. That goal was just the first of what would be a big night for this line.
McKinney scored again less than 5 minutes into the game taking a drop pass from Petan and snapping home a wrist shot past Nicholas Taylor. For McKinney, the two goals helped bump a slump that saw him register just 2 goals and 1 assist in his previous 8 games.
Chase Kaiser got Victoria on the board scoring on their first shot of the game roofing a great shot over Khaleed Devji on the powerplay.
McKinney and Petan were back at it again on the powerplay picking up their 3rd points of the period setting up a goal by Zach Hodder.
Coltyn Hansen pulled the Grizzlies back within one firing a wrist shot past Devji.
Just 1:22 later the Express were back up by two as Mitch Nardi re-directed a centering pass from Jace Hennig home. The goal for Nardi was part of a strong night for him as well. He played with a presence. He had a strong nose for the net all game long driving hard to the Victoria cage numerous times Friday night.
The dominant opening period saw the Express out shoot the Grizz 16-4.
It was more of the same for the Express in the second period.
Head Coach Jon Calvano took Alex Kerfoot off the line with Brady Shaw and John Siemer in the second period and put Kerfoot with Jace Hennig and AP call up Adam Rockwood. The three skilled youngsters looked magical at times together and their hockey sense working as a unit was a treat to watch on the attack in the Grizzlies zone.
Mitchell Fyffe picked up just his second goal of the season after some good team work by John Siemer and Brady Shaw to set up the goal.
Then it was Alex Petan's turn to find the back of the net for the 6th Express goal of the game set up by Bourne and McKinney.
The middle frame ended with a spirited dust up between Brady Shaw and former Express Jaden Schmeisser who were exchanging jabs a few times throughout the course of the game.
For a second straight period the Express out shot Victoria 16-4.
Victoria relieved Junior B call up Nicholas Taylor after the 2nd period after allowing 6 goals on 32 shots. Taylor Pears who spent some time in the BCHL in the past mopped up in the third.
Alex Kerfoot wired a wrist shot home from the right wing on the powerplay for the 7th goal for the Express.
Petan, Bourne and McKinney capped off their big night with the captain scoring his second of the night to put the Express up by 6. Bourne, and McKinney set it up. Malcom McKinney and Petan each finished with 5 points 2 goals and 3 assists. Taylor Bourne had 3 helpers. Add it all up, the three of them combined for 15 points with 4 goals and 9 assists.
The Grizzly killer Josh Finkelstein rounded out the scoring blasting home his second of the season and second goal in as many games in the span of a week vs. Victoria.
Collectively it was a strong team performance for the home team. The only downside came in the third period when assistant coach Mark Goble took a puck off the head and had to head to the room for repairs. But he did finish the game.
The Express finished with 45 shots while allowing a season low 18 shots allowed. The 9 goals scored was also a season high.
It's back to the Island for the Express with key conference games Saturday in Cowichan Valley and Sunday in Nanaimo.
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