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Saturday, January 19, 2019

RIVERMEN COMPLETE WEEKEND SWEEP OF EXPRESS WITH SHOOTOUT WIN

It took seven rounds of the shootout, but the Langley Rivermen eventually prevailed for a 2-1 win over the Express to complete a weekend sweep of the home and home between the teams. Click here for boxscore

Like the night before in Coquitlam it was a tight affair all night long.

Josh Wildauer scored what would turn out to be the lone goal of the night for the Express taking a cross ice feed from Ty Westgard then roofing a shot over the shoulder of Shayne Battler for a powerplay goal just 2:17 into the game.

Connor Gregga nearly made it a 2-0 Express lead with a chance from his off wing just over three minutes later, but was stonewalled by Battler.

Kolby Matthews held Langley at bay through two periods with 23 saves after 40 minutes.

Langley finally broke through on a brief two man advantage in the third period. Following a won face-off in the Express zone Rivermen defensemen Jake Livingstone and Alec Capstick would switch spots at the top, then Livingstone would walk in and blast a slapshot past Matthews to tie the game at 1.

Both teams played the rest of regulation playing very tight to the vest.

Early in overtime Connor Gregga poked the puck past a Rivermen defenceman to spring a breakaway only to be denied by Battler as Gregga tried to go five hole.

Shortly thereafter last night's hero for Langley Tanner Versluis was whistled for a hooking penalty.

After call his timeout, Jason Fortier sent out four forwards to work the powerplay. There were numerous chances to win it. Jared Power had trouble handling a pass at the side of the net which may have resulted in the winner for the Express if the pass was handled cleanly. Regan Kimens was denied on a jam play in the crease and Connor Gregga put a one timer wide of the net.

Overtime solved nothing as the Rivermen finished the game outshooting the Express 31-24.

It was the third shootout for the Express while it was Langley's first time this season.

The Express emerged from round 1 with the advantage after Trevor Ayre was stopped by Matthews and Chase Danol scored his 3rd shootout goal this season.

The story in the shootout was the Express inability to put the Rivermen away. Jared Power was stopped in round 2 which would have won the game for the Express.

Mark Gallant in round 3 scored to keep Langley alive. But then Connor Gregga had a chance to win on the Express third shot but couldn't beat Shayne Battler.

That theme would continue into extra shooters as Dallas Farrell, Christian Sanda and Ty Westgard all were stopped by Battler with chances to win the game for the Express.

Then Chase Pletzkie put the pressure on the Express scoring in round 7 with a shot over the glove of Kolby Matthews. Then defenceman Jordan Schulting was stopped on his must score shot and Langley sealed the win.

Langley has now won 6 of 7 meetings with the Express this season.

The Express will visit the Chilliwack Chiefs on Wednesday night.


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