BULLDOGS AT EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights of the Express 4-2 win over Alberni Valley Sunday.



Highlights produced by Eddie Gregory.

EXPRESS TOP DOGS

What's better than a perfect 5-0 home stand? A 5-0 home stand that improves the overall record to 7-1 on the season. That's exactly the case for the Express following a 4-2 win over Alberni Valley Sunday afternoon. Click here for boxscore

The 7-1 start is the best 8 game start in Express history.

The Express were catching a Bulldogs team playing their 3rd game in as many nights at the end of a road trip that started Friday in Prince George.

Early on the Bulldogs didn't show many signs of fatigue. Tommy Bannister had three of the better scoring chances for Alberni Valley in the first period but were turned aside by Clay Stevenson each time. He finished with 7 saves in the first period.

At the other end Cooper Connell got the Express offence rolling taking a great cross ice pass from Nick Carabin and burying a powerplay goal for a 1-0 Express lead. Connell has scored in back to back games and has three goals in his last four games.

Late in the period saw a very odd sequence. An Express player made a diving play to defend a Bulldog rush taking the player down in the process, Initially one of the referees had his arm up to indicate a delayed penalty only to bring his arm down seconds later.

That leads to confusion which ends up in Bulldogs goaltender Luke Pearson heading to the bench for the extra attacker thinking his team is on the verge of getting a powerplay. The play ends up in the corner in the Express end and it's never blown dead as it appeared at this point there was no delayed penalty in effect. So by this point the Bulldogs had 6 skaters on the ice and Pearson returned to his net. By this point it appeared as though the Express would be getting a powerplay with Alberni Valley having too many men on the ice.

Now both benches are upset thinking at one point they should be getting a powerplay. When the dust settled nothing was called and the teams remained at 5 on 5.

Moments later the Express extended their lead as Ryan Tattle sped into the Bulldogs zone to recover his dump in. He then fishes out the puck to set up Drew Cooper who snaps home his 3rd of the season for a 2-0 Express lead after 1.

The Bulldogs had some jump to open the second period. Mitch Deelstra from behind the Express net found Tim Gould in the slot who cut the lead to 2-1 just 49 seconds into the frame.

Deelstra then took a pass on a odd man rush and narrowly beat Clay Stevenson on a backhand to tie the game at 2 at 7:19.

Joe Borthwick returned after serving a two game suspension for a kneeing major penalty last Sunday vs. Prince George.

He left his mark on the game 6 minutes after Deelstra's goal by intercepting a stretch pass and cutting back into the Bulldogs zone and snapping his first BCHL goal past the glove of Pearson for a 3-2 Express lead after 40 minutes.

That goal helped turn the momentum which has shifted in the Bulldogs favour during the 2nd period. The line of Logan Kurki, Dante Ballarin and Luke Burke had their best outing collectively of the season. And they didn't need to leave a mark on the scoresheet. Consistently they provided good minutes more often than not working the puck in the Bulldogs end and forcing them to spend more time defending than on the attack.

Tyler Schleppe provided the insurance four minutes into the third converting a loose puck that squirted out from the boards and snapping a shot over the glove of Luke Pearson for a 4-2 Express lead.

From that point forward Clay Stevenson shut the door to finish with 20 saves to improve his record to 5-0 on the season.

The Express will kick off October at the annual BCHL showcase which is split between Chilliwack and Penticton. Thursday the Express will play the host Chilliwack Chiefs. Then Saturday morning the  Express will face the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in Penticton. 

BULLDOGS AT EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights of the Express 8-4 win over Alberni Valley Sunday afternoon.

Highlights produced by Eddie Gregory. 

EXPRESS OUTPACE BULLDOGS

Ty Westgard picked up four assists and Regan Kimens scored twice while adding a helper as the Express doubled Alberni Valley 8-4. Click here for boxscore

The Express started the game as if they were shot out of a cannon playing a high tempo pace that the road weary Bulldogs looked like they would have trouble keeping up with.

Defenceman Pito Walton followed the play right to the Bulldogs net and converted a Regan Kimens pass for a 1-0 Express lead just 30 seconds into the game.

And from there the Express were buzzing in the Bulldogs zone and it took until the 8 minute mark of the game before Alberni Valley was credited with their first shot, while the Express had 8 on John Hawthorne at the other end.

Alberni Valley pulled even taking advantage of an Express turnover at the Bulldogs blueline allowing Issac Tonkin-Palmer to be quickly sprung the other way and snapping a shot in off the glove of Clay Stevenson to tie the game at 1.

Jordan Schulting restored the Express lead late in the period, heading to the net and converting a tip in pass from Ty Westgard for Schulting's 2nd of the season.

Christian Sanda was robbed in the final minute of the period by John Hawthorne who stretched out as far as he could to keep the Express lead at just 2-1 after the Express outshot Alberni Valley 15-4 in the first period.

Dawson Tritt thought he tied the game at two on a powerplay goal he jammed in from under the glove of Clay Stevenson. After discussion by the officials, the call was overturned on coincidental contact.

Regan Kimens potted his first of the net converting from the slot for the second two goal Express lead of the night at 3-1.

The second period wasn't quite as uptempo as the first period. That allowed Alberni Valley to claw their way back in the game at moments.

Mitch Deelstra cut in the Express zone with speed and did a good job to fight off Jack Cameron then slide home his 15th of the season.

Josh Wildauer had the response for the Express just 30 seconds later snapping home his 22nd of the season from the right circle.

The pesky Bulldogs made it a one goal game for a third time two minutes later on a goal by Stephen Castagna.

It was at this point the Express would shake off the Bulldogs and pull away for good.

Regan Kimens from just inside the blueline took a drop pass and ripped home his 5th goal against Alberni Valley this season. Then exactly one minute later Dallas Farrell found himself alone in front of the net and took a backhand from Danny Pearson and Farrell put the Express up 6-3 after 2 periods.

Danny Pearson 5 minutes into the third scored for a second straight game in which he dressed going to the net and converting a set up from Farrell to make it a 7-3 game.

Ryan Novecosky surprised Clay Stevenson snapping a shot from the point for his first of the season to make it a 7-4 game.

That was followed by Alex DiPaolo finishing the scoring tipping home a heads up pass from Jack Cameron.

John Hawthorne then denied Regan Kimens second hat-trick of the season vs. the Bulldogs with a great glove save on a late third period powerplay.

The Express finished the game outshooting Alberni Valley 34-23. Both teams went 0 for 2 on the powerplay.

The win improves the Express to 3-0-1 in their 6 game home stand picking points in all 4 games so far. It will continue Wednesday afternoon when the Express host the Surrey Eagles.

BULLDOGS @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Here's the highlights of the 3-0 Express win over the Bulldogs Sunday.

Highlights courtesy of Jorge Parra and Underdog Productions.

COOPER TAKES BITE OUT OF BULLDOGS

Reid Cooper made 35 saves for his first BCHL shutout and Christian Bosa scored a pair of first period goals as the Express shutout the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 3-0. Click here for boxscore

It was a game that featured a pair of teams that won't be heading to the BCHL playoffs.

The Express resembled a team that is still working hard to finish the season on a positive note.

They jumped on the Bulldogs and it didn't take long for them to be rewarded.

Noah Turanski led the rush out of the Express zone and dished to Bosa who called for the puck, then when he got it he ripped a shot up over the glove of Brody Claeys for a 1-0 Express lead.

Boss only had to wait 1:34 for his next goal. This time he re-directed a David Giunta point shot for a 2-0 Express lead. The Bulldogs briefly argued Bosa's stick was high, but a short dicussion determined the goal was legal.

The two goals for the Express were all part of a strong opening period that saw the Express outshoot Alberni Valley 18-11.

Blake Hayward gave the Express a 3-0 lead early in the second period taking a Luca Leone pass and slding a backhand home for his 8th of the season.

That would end up being the final goal of the night for the Express, but the odd man rushes for the Express would keep on coming in the opening half of the period, and Claeys was the lone reason the Express didn't add to their lead.

Midway through the second period the game started to shift a little and Reid Cooper got locked in the Express crease. He stopped 9 shots in the second period. He then added another 15 shots in the third but weren't able to beat the Express goaltender who posted his first career BCHL shutout. Cooper can also thank his teammates for their solid play in front of him limiting the high quality chances against and getting sticks in the way to deflect Bulldog shots away from the Express net.

The shots finished 39-35 in favour of the Express which is just the second time in 57 games the Express have outshot an opponent. The other time came in the first meeting of the season between the two teams at the Bauer BCHL showcase in Chilliwack in September.

The Express have one game left in their season this coming Friday when they host the Prince George Spruce Kings.

BULLDOGS PREVAIL IN 2OT AFTER EXPRESS RALLY

The Express erased a three goal deficit, but it still wasn't enough as they fell 5-4 in double overtime Sunday afternoon to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Click here for boxscore

Both teams were wrapping up a long week. The Express were playing their fourth game in five days. Alberni Valley was playing their third game in as many days after starting their weekend Friday night in Trail.

Early on it was the Bulldogs who looked like the fresher team. Nathan Dingman opened the scoring when his shot from the right wing rang off the goal post but buried the rebound of his original shot beating Tyger Howat with a shot between the pads.

The Bulldogs entered the game with just one win in their last eight games. One of the areas that has hurt Alberni Valley during that time was their penalty kill. It would be one area that would keep the Express in the game.

Charlie Barrow pulled the Express even with a power play goal midway through the first period unleashing a one timer from the left point after a won faceoff in the Bulldogs zone.

The game was only tied for seventeen seconds as Chris Schutz snapped a shot from the slot between the pads of Howat after the Express were soft in their defensive zone coverage after the pass came out from the corner.

Dingman added his second of the game early in the second period standing in front of the Express net and finishing off a feed from Ryan Finnegan and tipping it in from the lip of the blue paint in front of Howat. Finnegan and Quinn Syrydiuk each had a pair of assists on the Dingman goals.

More Express defensive breakdowns led to the fourth Bulldogs goal. Kyle Kauffman found himself alone in front of Howat and he buried the rebound of his own shot for a 4-1 Bulldogs lead just 1:22 after Dingman's goal.

Owen Stout began the Express comeback with a wrist shot from the right wing that beat Brody Claeys over the glove. Sunday's game would be a career afternoon for Stout as he finished with one goal and three assists for four points.

Stout then had a hand on Taylor Green's power play goal that pulled the Express within one. Green providing the screen on the power play tipped Charlie Barrow's point shot. Barrow finished with one goal and an assist and was great all over the ice for the Express Sunday.

The Express played this game with only 11 forwards after Jackson Cressey and Blake Hayward met up with Head Coach Barry Wolff in Leduc Alberta for the start of selection camp for Team Canada West for the upcoming World Junior A Challenge. Midway through the second period the Express were down to 10 forwards after Matt Michie was ejected following his fight after he had to answer the bell for his hit on Quinn Syrydiuk along the boards.

Austin McIlMurray completed the come back for the Express in the third period with the third power play goal for the Express. They finished 3 for 4 on the power play and killed off all three Bulldogs power plays.

Early in overtime the Express had their chances to take the two points. McIlMurray had two good chances in the first two minutes but wasn't able to strike for his second overtime winner of the season.

Alberni Valley prevailed in the first minute of the second overtime as Bulldogs defenseman Paul Meyer beat an Express defenseman to the puck to keep it in the Express end. Then Meyer snapped a shot through the legs of Howat from a sharp angle for the 5-4 Alberni Valley win.

The Bulldogs finished with 49 shots while the Express sent 31 pucks the way of Brody Claeys.

The Express finished their busy four game in five day week picking up three of a possible eight points. They will host the Wenatchee Wild on Wednesday.

EXPRESS CAN'T TAME BULLDOGS BITE

The Express are still in search of their 2nd win on home ice after falling 6-4 to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs Friday night.

Alberni Valley used a fast start to get the jump on the Express and put them on the path to victory.

Their speed and pressure on the puck was very effective and lead to scoring chances and dictate the tempo of the first period.

Mitch Makin's speed cutting into the Express zone allowed him to get a step on an Express defenceman and feed the puck into the blue paint to Harlan Orr who just needed to have his stick on the ice to tip home his 4th goal of the season into a gaping net.

Orr added his second of the game 4 minutes later as he banged home the rebound of a Brodie Clowes point shot for a 2-0 Alberni Valley lead at 14:56.

The Express got one back before the period was done as a deft set up from behind the net by Ryan Rosenthal to Corey Mackin who scored his 12th of the season just over a minute after Orr's second of the period.

The score was 2-1 in favour of Alberni Valley after 1 period. But the shot clock told the real story of the period as to who was by far the better team as the Bulldogs outshot the Express 23-6.

The game kept going the Bulldogs way in the second period. Former Express Justin Georgeson playing in his first game in Coquitlam as a Bulldog opened the frame with a powerplay goal just 26 seconds into the period roofing it over the shoulder of Gordie Defiel from a sharp angle.

Ryan Buse put the visitors up 3 as he fired a shot past a screened Gordie Defiel after a won faceoff in the Express zone.

Hunter Stewart made it a 5-1 game as his wrist shot from the slot was fired past Defiel midway through the period.

It was a complete 180 turnaround in terms of who controlled the play from the first period to the second. The Express fired 21 shots in the frame to just 6 for the Bulldogs. But the 3 goals Alberni Valley put up in the period is all that counts at the end of the night.

The Express continued their control of the game from the start of the second period into the third period.

Goals by Bo Pieper and Joey Santucci cut the Bulldogs lead to 5-3. And the Express fired another 18 shots in the final period, but they couldn't dig themselves out of the 4 goal hole from the first half of the game.  The Express outshot Alberni Valley 39-14 in the final 2 periods, but it still wasn't enough.

Harlan Orr capped off his hat-trick with an empty net goal with just over a minute to play. That was followed by a goal by Jackson Cressey in the final minute to put a close on proceedings.

The Express have now lost 5 straight games and 6 of their last 7. They still have just 1 win on home ice this season. They will try to snap their streak Wednesday night when they host the Surrey Eagles.