EXPRESS TOP MAINLAND DIVISION'S BEST

The Express played one of their more complete outings in recent weeks and came away with a 3-1 win over the Mainland division champion Prince George Spruce Kings. Click here for boxscore

The win snapped a 7 game losing streak for the Express.

Saturday night the Express dug in to play a game that saw them make smart plays in the defensive zone that translated into success in the other end.

In the Express crease Brock Hamm was in fine form. One of his best saves of the first period came on an Express power play to deny Dustin Manz on a shorthanded breakaway.

Late in the first period the Express opened the scoring starting in the defensive zone with Christian Sanda digging out a puck then feeding Eric Linell who fired a stretch pass that only Josh Wildauer could get a stick on then he fought off a Spruce Kings defender and roofed his 10th of the season.

The penalty killing was another aspect of the Express game that was on the mark. They killed off three Prince George powerplays in the first 21 minutes of the game to carry the one goal lead into the opening minutes of the 2nd period. Prince George finished 0 for 5 on the power play.

Colby Pederson did a lot of heavy lifting for the Express to battle for pucks through the night. He made a good play along the wall in the defensive zone to bounce off the glass to himself then rush it into the Spruce Kings zone then fire a perfect pass on the tap of Haydn Delorme racing to the net for a 2-0 Express lead.

The lead stood into the third period. The Express had to contend with a Spruce Kings team that works to control the puck in the offensive zone hoping to lead to breakdowns and chances. From a defensive stand point the Express did a good job of managing the Spruce Kings attack.

With just under 6 to play the Spruce Kings finally broke through when Dylan Anhorn from the blueline found Kyle Johnson alone in front of the Express net and he roofed the puck over a sprawled Hamm to break his shutout.

As the click ticked down the Express did get some shifts in the Spruce Kings end to help tick down the clock.

Then with just over a minute to play and the extra attacker on the ice for Prince George, the Express won a defensive zone draw and rimmed around the boards to centre ice eventually getting into the Prince George end where Christian Sanda sealed the game with a empty net goal. Sanda finished with a goal and an assist.

The Express salvaged the final game of the season series against the Spruce Kings. In fact the Express picked up their first win in two years vs. Prince George. It was Valentines day 2016 the last time the Express defeated the Spruce Kings who were 12-0-1 against the Express dating back to the start of last season.

Sunday the Express will play their final road game of the season with a visit to Langley. It the first game of a home and home with the Express wrapping up the regular season Friday night when they host the Rivermen. 

EXPRESS POWER PAST EAGLES

The Express had a season high of 5 power play goals en route to a 6-0 win over the Surrey Eagles. Click here for boxscore

Brock Hamm made 41 saves to post his first shutout in an Express uniform.

It was the fourth meeting between the teams in just under three weeks. The last time the teams met the Express fell by a 4-1 score in Surrey nearly two weeks ago.

In that meeting the Eagles got off to a quick start, and the Express never really clawed their way back in it.

Wednesday it was a much better start for the Express. The power play got things going 5 minutes into the game on a wrist shot by Jonathan Sheardown for his first BCHL goal to open the scoring. Sheardown's shot completely destroyed the water bottle of Eagles goaltender Daniel Davidson. Sheardown's goal was the first time in 6 games the Express scored first.

Surrey looked for the equalizer and quickly learned that Express goaltender Brock Hamm was dialed in. His best save in the first period came off a one timer by Ryan Brushett in the slot.

Josh Wildauer tallied the second power play goal for the Express finding a loose puck in the crease and poking it home for a 2-0 Express lead. Jonathan Sheardown picked up his second point of the night with an assist on the goal. Jack Lippis had helpers on both first period power play goals.

The Eagles got the first two powerplays of the second period which would have helped their cause to get back into the game. But they struggled to generate much due to the strong play of the Express penalty killers. Jack MacNab at times did good work using his size and strength to protect the puck and kill time off the Surrey powerplays.

Then the power play continued to pile up the goals for the Express. Jordan Schulting's shot from left point was knocked down in front of the net and with both Josh Wildauer and Will Lawerence in front of the net it was the former who swiped it home for his second of the game and a 3-0 Express lead.

In the third period Surrey was trying hardest to jam pucks to the net to find a way to get a puck past Brock Hamm, but he wasn't going to be beat on Thursday. Surrey's dynamic duo of Johnny Wesley and Ty Westgard were kept in check all throughout the contest.

Then the Express pulled away from their opponent. Landon Fuller kept the puck in the Surrey zone and gave the puck to Jack MacNab who cut to the net and roofed a shot past Davidson.

Finally the power play put the finishing touches on the lopsided win. Will Lawerence converted a set up at the lip of the Eagles crease to make it 5-0. Then in the final minute Christian Sanda buried a rebound for the 5th power play goal for the Express.

December 16th, 2011 was the last time the Express scored 5 power play goals in a game. That night the Express defeated the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 8-2. Thursday's performance is still no where close to the franchise record for power play goals in a game which is 8 which was achieved on September 16, 2006 at Langley.

Jordan Schulting finished with 4 assists, that comes one day after committing to UMass Lowell. Josh Wildauder had two goals and an assist and Will Lawerence had one goal and two assists.

The Express will continue their road trip Friday night in Wenatchee. Then head to Trail Saturday night. 

EXPRESS GRIT OUT ROAD WIN VS. LANGLEY

The Express joined the Wenatchee Wild as the only teams in the BCHL to defeat the Langley Rivermen on home ice in regulation by a score of 3-1 Saturday night. Click here for boxscore

It was the second straight road win for the Express and their third win overall in their last four games.

During this run for the Express, they've been at their best creating chances offensively, and getting out of the zone quick in their own end. They were able to do that on Saturday night. Plus the Express did a good job of blocking shots particularly in the middle part of the ice in their zone.

Josh Bruce forced a turnover at the Express blueline and walked in on a breakaway snapping a shot over the shoulder of Rivermen goaltender Braedon Fleming.

In their own end the Express showed good poise with the puck not rushing plays and getting it out of their end.

Early in the second period Eric Linell came close to adding to the Express lead beating Fleming with a wrist shot that hit the post.

12 minutes into the second period Landon Fuller got involved in a scuffle behind the Express net. The blue liner came up swinging on Ethan Leyh. Fuller was given a double minor for roughing and a game misconduct. So the Express had to play the rest of the game without their most physically imposing defenseman.

Dominic Davis dressed for a second game for the Express as an AP. He didn't look out of place throughout the night. He was even rewarded with some time on the penalty kill on Fuller's double minor.

Langley did pull even on that power play when Colin Bernard hammered a one timer from the point over the shoulder of Brock Hamm.

In the third Langley did start to ramp up their pressure looking for their first lead. But the Express stood tall against the Rivermen attack. And they had a sharp Brock Hamm behind them backing the team up.

His best save came early in the third off a re-direct by Ethan Leyh. Hamm also got some help when Trevor St. Jean hit the post midway through the period. He finished with 32 saves earning first star honors and is now 2-0-1 in his last 3 games.

With no Fuller to finish the game, the rest of the blue liners were tasked with additional minutes. They rose to the occasion. Doug Scott had a strong night on the backend. If he got paid, he would have earned his money. He had a number of shot blocks that clearly stung the Express blue liner who gritted it out.

The tie was broken by the Express who rushed into the Langley zone. Linell fed it across to Josh Wildauer, his shot went wide, but he stayed in pursuit the puck and set up captain Alex Ambrosio who snapped home the pass from the slot.

Langley's last gasp came moments later. Josh Bruce was called for a check to the head penalty less than a minute after Ambrosio's goal. With the game on the line, the Express shut down the struggling Rivermen power play.  Langley finished 1 for 4 on the power play. The Express were 0 for 2.

Colby Pederson battled hard all night long for the Express. He was battling for pucks, blocking shots and just played with a high compete level. He was rewarded for his play breaking away from his own blueline and rushing the puck up the ice and scoring into the empty net to seal the win.

It was the third win for the Express this season vs. Langley. Their first win on the road in the season series.

The Express have two games next weekend at home before their Christmas break Friday and Saturday vs. Prince George and Powell River.