Adam Trotman & Zach Borgiel - Photo courtesy of Damon James
The Cowichan Valley Capitals rode goaltender Zach Borgiel to the tune of 32 saves as the Capitals handed the Express their first home ice loss of the season in their 24th home game with a 2-1 win. Click here for boxscore
It was the first loss for the Express at home since game 3 of last years playoffs vs. Prince George to bring the 24 game home ice winning streak to an end.
Fireworks got the game off to a bang. Tyler Schleppe and Christian MacDougall started on the wings for the Express on the opening face-off and they were hacking with the Caps wingers lining up along side them forcing the officials to intervene before the game got started.
Then right off the bat Christian MacDougall was shoved into the corner boards and the Express forward was hurt on the play and didn't return.
Dan McIntyre was given a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for the check from behind on MacDougall.
Wyatt Head - Photo courtesy of Damon James
On the major penalty Cowichan opened the scoring taking advantage of a turnover at the Express blueline which allowed Olivier Gauthier to walk in on a breakaway where he slid a backhand past Jack Watson to open the scoring.
Wyatt Head pulled the Express even on the powerplay snapping his 2nd Express goal past Borgiel to tie the game at one just under three minutes later.
That set the stage for a fast pace and hard fought first period between two division leaders.
The game began to turn in the Caps favour in the second period as they began to force the Express into turnovers coming out of their zone.
Cowichan took the lead when Matthew Crasa pounced on the rebound of a Tanner Sidaway shot that Jack Watson couldn't handle with his glove.
Connor Gregga - Photo courtesy of Damon James
Jason Fortier wasted no time immediately pulling Watson in favour of Joe Howe after two Caps goals on 10 shots in just under 26 minutes of action. For Howe it was his first game action for the Express after being acquired from Victoria at the trade deadline.
Howe kept the Caps at bay the rest of the way finishing with 14 saves in 34 minutes.
The Express ramped up their level in the third period looking for the equalizer. But each time they were turned back by a dialed in Zach Borgiel. He finished with 20 saves in the third period to earn the win. In the dying seconds he got a little help as well as the Express on a scramble got the puck to the crease where the puck was tucked back into the pads of Borgiel by a teammate.
Prince George comes to Coquitlam Wednesday afternoon as the Express four game home stand resumes.
Dallas Farrell's first BCHL goal couldn't have come at a better time than with 4.1 seconds left in the third period to give the Express a 2-1 win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The win completed a two game sweep for the Express at the 2018 Bauer BCHL showcase and it evened their record to 3-3.
There was some drama in the first period before the teams settled into a tight contest leading up to the dramatic finish.
Chase Danol opened the scoring for the Express with a powerplay goal deflecting a Troy Robillard shot for his second of the season past Capitals starter Matthew Waite.
Saturday's game was the Capitals debut for Waite who spent last season with Moncton of the QMJHL.
His debut didn't last long however, as he left the game midway through the first period leaving in a fair amount of discomfort. Jack Grant stepped in to relieve his fallen comrade.
Dallas Farrell entered this game with 4 assists in his first five games in an Express uniform. The shifty winger has shown some flashes in his first few games. And he's been very consistent and generating some quality scoring chances and he just had no luck getting one of his chances to find the back of the net.
In the first period he had one of the better Express chances but ripped a shot over the Caps goal.
Cowichan evened the game on an odd man rush with a goal from Lucas Vanroboys whose original shot was stopped by Clay Stevenson, but he couldn't grab the rebound at 13:16 of the first period.
That would be the only puck to get past the Express starter who was solid with 20 saves to post his second win of the season.
Now in a 1-1 tie, these teams really settled into a close game.
The Express had a few scramble chances in the second period but were unfortunate that they weren't able to get the puck to dribble in for them or have a player in the right spot to poke the puck home.
Troy Robillard also had one of the better Express chances of the second period lifting a shot over the net rushing in from the left wing.
In the third period the Express just stuck with their game looking to get their first puck past Jack Grant who had settled in nicely after reliving Waite in the first period.
They couldn't use two third period powerplays to break the deadlock. The Express finished 1/7 on the powerplay. The penalty killing had another strong game killing off all 3 Capitals powerplays. They've killed off 25 of their first 28 shorthanded situations in their first 6 games.
As the third period ticked down the Express were forcing the Caps into icing the puck on multiple occasions leading to Express offensive zone draws.
Off another offensive zone draw for the Express, the Caps won the face-off and executed their assignment well following a time out to clear the puck out of the zone off a face-off win. But the Caps didn't get the puck deep and the Express quickly rushed back up the ice in the dying seconds of the third period.
Regan Kimens powered the puck to the net on a wrap around and Dallas Farrell following the play buried the rebound to give the Express the 2-1 lead with 4.1 seconds left and doing so with not enough time for the Caps to threaten with one last chance.
For Cowichan Valley, it was their second straight heart breaking loss at the showcase. They dropped their first game 4-3 in overtime to Chilliwack Friday night after letting a 3-0 lead slip through their hands.
After starting the season with 6 consecutive games away from home ice the Express finally will play their home opener Sunday afternoon vs. the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. And they'll do it feeling pretty good about themselves with two wins this week at the showcase.
Captain Luca Leone had 1G, 1A - Photo courtesy of Damon James
On Coquitlam Comets night the Express really began to shine as the game was hitting it's twilight in the third period in a 6-3 win over Cowichan Valley. Click here for boxscore
The win for the Express was their second in a row and third in their last six games. This mini two game winning streak is fairly impressive considering the Express schedule the last week that saw them play 6 games in 8 nights and their third game in the last three nights.
The Express did something to start that hasn't been a common occurrence this year and that's get off to a fast start. They opened up an early 5-0 lead in shots.
It wasn't long after that point that the Express opened the scoring. Luca Leone at the side of the Capitals night had his first shot blocked then chipped in the rebound for is 13th of the season.
Less than two minutes later Leone set up the 2-0 Express goal by Will Lawrence who snapped home his 5th of the season. Lawrence has goals in back to back games and three goals in his last six games.
Express mistakes in the second period allowed Cowichan Valley to claw back into the game in the second period.
Lawson Fenton made 28 saves - Photo courtesy of Damon James
Lawson Fenton trying to catch the Capitals on a change tried to quickly move the puck up the ice but fanned on his pass handing it right to Haydn Hopkins who scored a shorthanded goal at 2:41.
Then midway through the period a pass up the middle was picked off by Ayden MacDonald who ripped a wrist shot up over the blocker of Fenton from the slot.
Christian Bosa briefly restored the Express lead finding a loose puck at the side of the Caps net and scoring just his second of the season.
38 seconds later the game was tied again on Max Newton's 21st of the season.
After scoring three goals in the second period, the Caps could have taken control of the game with the Express getting themselves into penalty trouble. But the penalty killing for the Express continues to shine keeping the game tied. The Express had another perfect night on the penalty kill. They've been perfect on the PK in four of their last five games.
Midway through the second period it was the power play then making a difference for the Express.
Brandon Kennedy's point shot was tipped home by Mitch Newsome from the slot for a 4-3 Express lead. Newsome has goals in back to back games.
Will Lawrence finished with two goals - Photo courtesy of Damon James
With the lead in hand the Express settled into shutting down the Caps bids for the equalizer. Alex Ambrosio stole the puck at the Caps line and scored with just over 4 minutes to play for a 5-3 Express lead.
Then Will Lawrence iced the game for good on a late power play taking advantage of a puck handling gaffe by Adam Marcoux and he poked home his second of the game.The power play finished 2 for 4.
At the other end Lawson Fenton finished with 28 saves in the Express crease.
The Express return to action Monday night when they're in Wenatchee for a meeting on Martin Luther King day in the U.S.
Blake Hayward in player introductions - Photo courtesy of Garrett James
Personally I don't find tie games all that entertaining. But the home opener for the Express vs. the Cowichan Valley Capitals left the fans in attendance feeling like they got their money worth in the 3-3 final. Click here for boxscore
Forward Matt Michie - Photo courtesy of Garrett James
The game had chances, entertaining goals, big saves and left fans thinking about what if when they left the rink.
Things didn't start well for the Express as the puck came right into the slot to a wide open Patrick Geary who opened the scoring just 54 seconds into the game.
Both teams easily could have used fatigue as an excuse but that wasn't the case. The Express were playing their third game in three nights after the previous two nights on the Island. The Caps travelled to Coquitlam after playing up in Prince George the night before.
Austin McILmurray celebrates his first goal - Photo courtesy of Garrett James
Austin McIlmurray pulled the Express even taking a pass from Taylor Green and sliding the puck through Storm Phaneuf.
The Coral Springs Florida native added his second of the night midway through the second period as he found a loose puck and hammered it just inside the post for his second of the game giving the Express a 2-1 lead.
29 seconds later on the power play the Express extended their lead as the puck was worked across to Nic Coltura and his shot found the back of the net for a 3-1 Express lead.
Storm Phaneuf watches an Express goal - Photo courtesy of Garrett James
Cowichan quickly pulled back within one as Geary scoring his second of the game just 23 seconds after the 3-1 goal. All told the teams traded three goals in a 52 second span.
In the third period Cowichan Valley pulled even when Matthew Hudie scored on a one timer seconds after an Express penalty expired and the game was tied at three.
The Express have their penalty killing to thank for earning a point in this game. They killed off all 7 Caps power plays. The biggest kill coming in the final three minutes of the third period after Nic Coltura was called for boarding.
In the first overtime the Express had the game put on a platter with Adam Osczevski hauling down Charlie Barrow resulting in an Express power play.
Colton Kerfoot - Photo courtesy of Garrett James
The best chance on the man advantage came on a one timer from McIlmurray blasting a one timer wide. He had a number of quality chances on the night to complete his first BCHL hat-trick. For the most part the Express were pretty methodical working the puck around on the 4 on 3 power play.
In 3 on 3 it was Tyger Howat's time to shine. He made sparking saves on Darien Craighead on a breakaway, a bang bang play for Oszevski in front. And a scramble play that the Caps couldn't poke the puck home lying in the crease. Howat finished with 27 saves and was named the games third star.
Colton Kerfoot is going to have nightmares after the puck came to him in the dying seconds of the game and he ripped a shot high and wide.
Up next for the Express is a visit to West Kelowna Tuesday night.
Corey Mackin picked up his 100th point and 50th goal all part of a 4 point night in a 6-4 Express win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The win extended the Express winning streak to 5 straight overall and 8 straight on home ice. Click here for box score
Mackin finished with two goals and two assists and now has 103 points on the season.
The BCHL scoring leader entered the game sitting on 48 goals and 99 points. Mackin and his line mates Brett Supinski and Brendan Lamont were flying early and it was clear right away that they were determined to make sure Mackin hit his milestones on this night.
Mackin got the first milestone out of the way early as he set up Brendan Lamont who scored his 25th of the season to open the scoring at 2:53. The goal was the 100th point for Mackin. For Lamont that's his 5th goal in his last 4 games. Lamont extended his point streak to six games with 5 goals and 4 assists in that time after finishing with 1 goal and 2 assists.
Despite no playoffs for the opposition, the Capitals battled hard all night. They quickly tied it less than two minutes later on a goal by Ryan Burton.
Every shift the line of Mackin, Lamont and Supinski on the ice they were creating quality scoring chances for the Express. Lamont came inches away from his second of the period by ringing a shot off the underside of the crossbar midway through the first period.
Mackin wouldn't be sitting on 100 points for long as he scored his 49th of the season at 11:02 to restore the Express lead.
Again however the Caps wouldn't go away as Darien Craighead came down the right wing and scored on a wrist shot that trickled through Braden Krogfoss at 14:10.
Ryan Burton added his second of the night with just over four minutes remaining in the second period finishing off a 3 on 1 rush in the Express zone.
The lead only lasted 11 seconds as the line of Michael Merulla, Brendan Gulka and Owen Stout went to work and off the face-off Stout scored on a rebound at the side of the net following an Austin Anselmo shot to even the game at three. That goal would be the first of a very solid night for that line for the Express.
Luke Santerno gave Cowichan their second lead of the game just past the 12 minute mark of the third period converting a set up from Darien Craighead.
Like the last Capitals lead this one didn't last long either. And like their previous lead it was the line of Gulka, Stout and Merulla pulling the Express even again. This time the response came 24 seconds later on a goal by Brendan Gulka. That line combined for 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points. Stout and Gulka have now compiled 2 goals and 3 assists during a 4 game point streak, Michael Merulla has 1 goal and 3 assists in his last four outings.
52 seconds after Gulka's goal the Express took the lead on a goal from Brett Supinski who scored his 47th of the season on a neat set up from behind the net by Brendan Lamont. Supinski finished with 1 goal and 3 assists. He now has 47 goals and 97 points this season.
Then in the dying moments Barry Wolff sent out his big guns to protect a one goal lead first with Lane Micahsiw on the bench for the extra attacker. The puck came to Lamont at the Caps line who slid the puck across to Mackin to hit the empty net for his 50th of the season.
Mackin becomes the third player in Express history to score 50 goals joining Kyle Turris who scored 66 on 2007 and Brodie Reid who scored 52 the next season. Both when the franchise was based in Burnaby. Mackin's 103 points now puts him 3rd all time amongst Express top season point producers surpassing Carlo Finucci's 102 in 2008 the only other time the Express have had a scoring champion.
Up next on the list is Tyler McNeely who had 104 points in 2007 teaming up with Kyle Turris that year who set the record with 121.
Mackin becomes the first player since Mitch McMillan to score 50 goals in the BCHL season when McMillan scored 61 in 2010 for Alberni Valley. He's also the first player to get 100 points in a season since Beau Bennett, Denver Manderson (PEN) and Mark Zengerle (SA) also in the 2010 season.
Up next the Express will conclude the regular season with a home and home with the Chilliwack Chiefs starting Friday in Coquitlam.
Forward Brendan Gulka acquired by the Express Friday from Cowichan Valley.
The Coquitlam Express have acquired 20 year old forward Brendan Gulka (94) from the Cowichan Valley Capitals in exchange for future considerations.
The 6'1, 210lb Langley native gives the Express a little more of a sand paper element to the forward group with some scoring touch. He has 46 games of BCHL experience mostly with the Langley Rivermen scoring 6 goals and 12 points and 55 PIM's. This season he has 4 goals and 6 points in 11 games. Langley did trade Brendan to Cowichan Valley earlier this season but he never reported.
Gulka is one of those players that you want to have on your team and is not fun to play against as an opponent. He should be more than a little familiar with his new teammates in his battles with the Express in recent meetings in the last 12 months.
Head Coach and GM Barry Wolff expects Brendan to make his Express debut Friday when the Express open a home and home with Surrey in Coquitlam.
