RIVER MEN PUTS CLAMP ON EXPRESS IN CRUNCH TIME

Mitch Newsome (18) scored in his Express debut - Photo courtesy of Damon James

The Langley Rivermen scored three unanswered third period goals as part of a 5-3 win over the Express. Four year WHL veteran Torrin White led the charge with a four point night to pace the Rivermen attack. Click here for boxscore

The Express entered the game four points back of the Langley Rivermen looking to try and reel in the Rivermen in the race for third place in the Mainland division standings.

In the five games for the Express since the Christms break they've been heavily outshot in the first period in four of those games and the Express made a point of wanting to turn the tables in that department Friday.

They started on the right foot with Taylor Green opening the scoring for the Express just over two minutes into the game.

That goal gave the Express some momentum in the first few minutes of the game.

But puck management for the Express was an area that hurt them throughout the night.

A bad pass back into the Express zone was pounced on by Justin Fregona and he walked in and deked past Tyger Howat scoring his 6th goal in 4 games against the Express this season.

Charlie Barrow - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Late in the first period a turnover at the Rivermen blueline started a Rivermen rush the other way and a give and go between Torrin White and Will Campion saw the veteran blue liner score to give Langley a 2-1 lead. The shots were 9-5 in favour of the Rivermen after 20 minutes.

The Express had the first three powerplays of the game. Then in the second Langley got the next three. The penalty killers rose to the occasion keeping the Rivermen off the board. Then captain Jackson Cressey muscled the puck into the Rivermen zone and cut to the net to score his third shorthanded goal of the season to even the score at two at 17:14.

Friday saw Mitch Newsome make his Express debut against one one his former teams after being acquired Sunday from Salmon Arm. He hit the score sheet for the first time burying a pass from the boards and scoring off the rush to put the Express into a 3-2 lead.

That goal power proved to be one of the few highlights for the Express in the third period that belonged to the Rivermen.

This game had a feel of a playoff game, and in playoff games teams that are successful do the little things right in order to win. Langley's veteran players showed veteran savvy in the final period to earn the two points. It started with the Rivermen working the puck in the Express zone and grinding them down. Dominic Franco was particularly strong using his size and strength effectively doing that.

Then after an effective shift for Franco's line in the Express zone ended, the Rivermen changed on the fly and Cam Ginnetti chased down his own dump in and was first on the puck then set up Torrin White who blasted a shot past Tyger Howat to tie the game at three.

51 seconds later after another Express turnover, a give and go between White and Max Kaufman saw the latter re-direct a pass between the pads of Howat for a 4-3 Rivermen lead.

Tyler Howat faced 35 shots - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Then White put the final stamp on a stellar night by scoring his second of the night from the slot for a 5-3 Rivermen lead. White finished with two goals and two assists. He was doing it at both ends of the rink in the third period. Defensively he came up with a number of blocked shots.

It was a tough night for the Express best players to generate offense at 5 on 5. Austin McIlMurray in particular was on the receiving end of some big hits when matched up against Rivermen captain defenseman Jordan Schneider.

Bo Didur only had to face 18 shots to earn the victory for Langley.

Up next for the Express will be a Sunday afternoon affair against Sheldon Rempal and the Nanaimo Clippers.