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.

EXPRESS COME BACK PAYS OFF THIS TIME VS. SPRUCE KINGS

For a second straight game the Express had a multi goal comeback vs. the Prince George Spruce Kings, this time the Express came away with the full two points with a 5-3 victory.
Click here for boxscore

Like Friday, the Express came out of the first period trailing 2-0. Ben Brar who has been an Express killer this season opened the scoring with his second shorthanded goal against the Express on a rebound at 5:03.

Brar struck again in the final minute of the 1st period using a defender as a screen then snapping a shot past the glove of Clay Stevenson for a 2-0 Spruce Kings lead. For Brar it was his 3rd two goal outing against the Express this season. He has 7 goals already in 5 meetings with the Express this season.

Sunday the Express had their early period rally one frame earlier than Friday doing it in the second period.

Chase Danol started the come back for a second straight game firing a shot over the shoulder of Logan Neaton just 27 seconds into the second period.

That was followed 54 seconds later by Josh Wildauer scoring from the slot and the Express had erased a two goal Prince George lead in quick fashion for a second straight game.

Those goals proved to be a spring board for the Express attack that wouldn't let up.

Regan Kimens scored the third Express goal in a span of 6:16 converting a cross ice pass from Dallas Farrell.

Late in the second period a confident Express powerplay moved the puck around at will creating numerous quality chances. Finally, Dallas Farrell put a perfect pass on the tape of Josh Wildauer who tipped home his second goal of the period and a 4-2 lead after two periods. Farrell had three assists in the second period while his line mates Josh Wildauer scored twice and Regan Kimens had a goal and an assist.

Christian Sanda iced the game with just over 7 minutes to play redirecting an Alex DiPaolo pass through Neaton for a 5-2 lead moments after an odd man rush went awry.

Corey Cunningham finished the scoring with 10 seconds left. That only put a minor damper on Clay Stevenson's 5th win of the season as he finished with 28 saves.

The win puts the Express back up by two points of the Prince George Spruce Kings for second place. And they're three points back of the Chilliwack Chiefs for first place.

Wednesday night the Express will visit the Penticton Vees. 

EAGLES @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights from Wednesday's 8-0 Express win over the Surrey Eagles.

Highlights produced by Eddie Gregory.

FARRELL PLAYS LAST SECOND HERO TO GIVE EXPRESS A SHOWCASE SWEEP

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.