COOPER STELLAR IN EXPRESS WIN OVER RIVERMEN

All smiles in a 2-1 win over Langley - Photo courtesy of Garrett James

Reid Cooper had his best outing of the year with 41 saves in a 2-1 Express win over the Langley Rivermen to open a weekend home and home set. Click here for boxscore

Reid Cooper - Photo courtesy of Garrett James

The Express got a structured effort for a full 60 minutes to post their second win of the season. The Express have also posted points in three straight games (2-0-0-1).

Little mistakes in the defensive zone have resulted in pucks ending up in the Express net which has cost them games this season. That can't be said on Friday night. Their structure combined with Cooper's strong play led to the victory for the Express.

In the first period the Express had a number of good chances to open the scoring. Alex Ambrsio chipped a puck just wide of the Langley net, Troy Robillard hit the post on the power play, and both Riley Johnson and Colby Pederson couldn't finish odd man rushes.

At the other end Reid Cooper set the tone for a strong night. First he stopped Angus Crookshank on a breakaway. Then moments later he made his best save of the night reaching back to deny Crookshank in the dying seconds of a Langley power play.

Jake Brien opened the scoring for the Express jumping into the rush and snapping a Eric Linell pass by Braedon Fleming at 19:33.

Cooper was dialed in all night long in the Express crease. He was seeing the puck well giving up very few second chances. Most notably when he made 15 second period saves.

Colby Pederson scores the GWG - Photo courtesy of Garrett James

Midway through the period the Express got a trade off in their favour when rookie defenseman Doug Scott did more than held his own against 20 year old and Rivermen leading goalscorer Nik Ponak in a fight. That tilt helped the Express who dressed 7 defensemen and had 6 for the rest of the night while Langley lost their top goal scorer following the automatic ejections.

Enterting the third period the Express needed to work hard on doing the little things well shift in and shift out to protect their one goal lead. From an entertainment standpoint it wasn't overly exciting. But it was very effective as the Express sat back in their structure.

Langley finally caught a break to get a puck past Cooper. John Wojciechowski's shot from a sharp angle handcuffed Cooper and bounced in to tie the game.

The Express didn't allow that goal to discourage them. They went right back to work and Colby Pederson going hard to the net buried the rebound of a Riley Johnson shot to re-store the Express lead just 37 seconds later at 14;39.

From there the Express clamped down and held on the rest of the way.

The re-match goes Saturday night in Langley.