EXPRESS SET FRANCHISE WINS RECORD VS. RIVERMEN

Graphic by Jacob Lazare.

Joey Berkopec - Photo courtesy of Damon James

The Coquitlam Express had their franchise record winning streak snapped at 17 with a 6-1 loss in Chilliwack Saturday. They took their frustration out on the Langley Rivermen Sunday to the tune of an 8-1 win to set a franchise record for wins in a season with their 37th.  It breaks the previous mark held by the 2011-12 team. Click here for boxscore

The Express were looking to get back to some of their details defensively that has been a trademark of the team for a vast majority of the season.

Early on the Express looked dialed into that part of the game. They were quick getting out of their zone. That allowed them to spend more time pressing in Langley's end of the rink.

Langley's lack of discipline all afternoon long was capitalized on repeatedly by the Express with a season high of 5 powerplay goals.

The first of the night game off the stick of Ethan O'Rourke who scored from the slot with a shot over the shoulder of Jonathan Mor.

Langley tied it with a powerplay goal of their own with Tristan Fraser setting up Hunter McCoy who snapped it past Clay Stevenson. That would be the lone blemish on Stevenson who made 19 saves for his 19th consecutive win. The penalty killing the rest of the afternoon had a strong showing holding Langley to 1 for 8 on the powerplay.

By the time the final minute of the first period rolled around Langley's undisciplined play put the Express on the powerplay four times. Ethan O'Rourke tipped home a Will Margel pass at the edge of the crease for a 2-1 Express lead after 1.

Period two saw the Express break the game wide open. It started with Adam Trotman less than two minutes in snapping home a shot from the right wing for a 3-1 Express lead.

Cooper Connell from the top of the left circle snapped a screen shot past Mor for a 4-1 Express lead on the powerplay.

Photo courtesy of Damon James

Two minutes later Massimo Rizzo hustled to a bounce pass off the boards and scored a shorthanded breakaway goal opening up a 5-1 lead.

That goal chased Jonathan Mor after 5 goals on 18 shots in his Langley debut. Braedon Fleming came into the game and was rudely greeted into it just 25 seconds later by a goal from Connor Gregga whose shot was tipped through the pads of Fleming.

Adam Trotman ensured that Fleming would be beat on the first two shots he faced tipping home a Connor Gregga shot for Trotman's second of the night and the 4th powerplay goal of the game for the Express to make it 7-1 after two periods. The final four goals of the period came in a span of 3 minutes and 41 seconds. Gregga finished with a four point night with 1 goal and 3 assists.

Adam Trotman - Photo courtesy of Damon James

With the game lopsided in the third. All that was left seemed to be for the tempers to start to get short. The final frame featured three third period fights over the final 20 minutes. First was a big mans scrap between Ethan O'Rourke and Jake Livingstone.

That was followed a few minutes later with Adam Trotman finishing off his tilt with Sean Bunting by wrestling him to the ice. The final fight of the third period saw James Bohn trading blows with Hunter McCoy.

Wyatt Head who has looked very impressive in his first two games with the Express capped off the night by sending a one timer that eluded Fleming's glove for Head's first Express goal.

Sunday's result keeps the Express undefeated at home at 22-0. It ties another franchise record for most home wins in a season matching the 06-07 Express team.

The Express are back in action Wednesday night vs. Surrey.