EXPRESS CAN'T SOLVE HOT RIVERMEN GOALTENDER

The Express peppered Langley goaltender Braedon Fleming with 37 shots, but despite numerous grade A chances they were only able to beat him once in a 3-1 loss in Langley. Click here for boxscore

Before the Express began their barrage, Brendan Budy opened the scoring racing down the left wing and picking the top corner on Clay Stevenson just 1:11 into the game.

Down a goal the Express started to generate their chances. Haydn Delorme and Jack MacNab had rebound chances on an Express power play but couldn't beat Fleming. For MacNab this was the start of an unfortunate day as he had most of the best chances for the Express Sunday.

Moments later a shot from the left wing was stopped by Fleming and rebound came right to MacNab who was stoned by Fleming who fired out his glove hand. The Langley goaltender was leaving plenty of rebounds in front of the net, but the Express weren't able to find those loose pucks and jam them home. The first period shots finished 16-9 in favor of the Express.

As is usually the case between the Express and Rivermen, the game had a bit of a testy element to it. Haydn Delorme had his battles with Brady Berger among others and the Express forward saw his helmet spend more time on the ice than on his head as he was engaged in the physical aspect of the game.

The chances for the Express carried into the second period. Again Jack MacNab was robbed on a rebound chance by Braedon Fleming.

Then the game turned in a span of 52 seconds. Following some Langley puck control in the Express zone, the puck found Spencer Berry at the blueline whose seeing eye shot zipped over Stevenson's shoulder for a 2-0 Langley lead.

That goal rattled the Express a little and moments later it was Brady Berger powering the puck to the Express net and burying his own rebound for a 3-0 Rivermen advantage.

Those goals took some of the wind out of the sails of the Express. They weren't able to generate as many top notch chances as frequently before the two goals in 52 seconds.

One of the final chances for the Express in the second period saw Eric Linell ring a shot off the goal post.

In the third period Colby Pederson put a shot off the cross bar that had Fleming sprawling in an effort to make the save.

Eric Linell thought he had scored on a bang bang play at the side of the Rivermen net. And to cap things off Jack MacNab was robbed for a 4th time on a rebound in front of the net.

Colby Pederson did break the shutout of Fleming to cap off the scoring with 3:15 to play with the goaltender on the bench for the extra attacker.

The Express effort level was strong most of the night and they were the better team, but the Rivermen got the better goaltending. The shots finished 37-30 for the Express.

The regular season schedule for the Express concludes Friday night when they will host Langley in the second half of the home and home.

Langley's win combined with both Surrey and Chilliwack losing Sunday put the Rivermen two points up on both those clubs as they all battle for home ice advantage in a first round series.

As the Express keep an eye on the interior race and their first round opponent, it's still at this point the Penticton Vees who were victorious Sunday to remain two points up on the Vernon Vipers heading into the final week of the regular season.

EXPRESS OUTPACE EAGLES

Jack MacNab scored his 1st two Express goals.
Photo courtesy of Damon James.

In a game that saw both teams move their feet in a uptempo contest, the Express were able to get the edge on the Surrey Eagles in a 4-1 win Saturday night. Click here for boxscore

Brock Hamm made 17 saves - Photo courtesy of Damon James

The Express got multiple point performances from Jack MacNab, Colby Pederson, Troy Robillard and Jordan Schulting to pace the attack.

In the opening shift of the game there was some concern after a hit involving Josh Wildauer and Surrey defenseman Jackson Ross left the Eagles defenseman lying on the ice with a significant cut on his head. Fortunately for the Eagles blue liner he missed a few shifts after going to the room for repairs.

All night long both teams were moving their feet making for entertaining hockey to watch.

Jack MacNab opened the scoring on his first Express goal taking a pass from Josh Bruce and snapping it past Daniel Davidson at 16:05. For the Notre Dame committed forward it was his 3rd of the season.

Surrey had a two man advantage for over 50 seconds in the first period to pull even, but the Express didn't give Surrey much of a sniff. They posted their second straight perfect 4 for 4 night on the penalty kill.

Jonathan Sheardown - Photo courtesy of Damon James

The second period saw the teams continue to play a track meet of the game, but after the first turn the Express started to distance themselves from their opponents. That speed led to good shifts in the Surrey zone.

Just shy of the 7 minute mark the Express doubled their lead on a Eric Linell deflection of a Troy Robillard for Linell's 21st of the season. The assists for Robillard was just the start of a strong game for him on the blueline.

At the other end, Brock Hamm was his usual solid self in the Express crease. He was getting some good support with the team playing at a high tempo in front of him.

Surrey's fourth power play of the night in the 3rd period didn't result in a goal. But they had good possession of the puck in the Express zone. They were able to carry that momentum when the play returned to 5 on 5. Moments later Jackson Ross surprised Brock Hamm with a quick wrist shot from the right point.

Then Hamm had to really be on his toes, a dump in the Express zone hit an official and caught Hamm out of the net and he raced back to his net and reached back with his stick and narrowly got a piece of the puck to keep it out of the net.

As the third period wound down the Express put the Eagles to bed. Colby Pederson raced into the Surrey zone then fed the puck back to Troy Robillard whose shot got to the net where Pederson followed it to bury the rebound for a 3-1 Express lead. Robillard picked up his 3rd assist of the night on the play. Since November 29th Robillard has not gone more than two games without a point. He has 2 goals and 10 assists for 12 points in his last 14 games.

The final shots finished 28-18 in favour of the Express. The 18 shots allowed is a season low. When the game was on the line in the 3rd period the Eagles were only held to three shots.

The Express will finish up a busy three game weekend with a Sunday afternoon meeting with the Chilliwack Chiefs at 2pm in Coquitlam.

EXPRESS 3 CENTENNIALS 2

Josh Wildauer and Sam Kozlowski
Photo courtesy of Damon James

The Express completed a season sweep of the Merritt Centennials with a 3-2 home ice win Wednesday night. Click here for boxscore

They got contributions from three unlikely goal scorers to pace the offensive attack. At the other end, Clay Stevenson was solid, most notably when the game was on the line in the third period.

Jack Lippis made his Express debut - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Wednesday's meeting also marked the Express debuts for forwards Jack Lippis and Jack MacNab. They were acquired by the Express earlier in the day in separate trades with the Wenatchee Wild and Nanaimo Clippers deals that saw future considerations go the other way.

MacNab had a two chances for the Express off the rush in the first period.

With the acquisitions of MacNab and Lippis that now gives the Express three players whose first name all starts with the name Jack. It was the longest serving Jack on the Express roster who opened the scoring. Josh Wildauer on the power play slid the puck to Jack Graham who slid the puck through the pads of Austin Roden.

Henry Cleghorn evened the game at one for Merritt finding a loose puck in front of the net and sliding it under Clay Stevenson.

The Express were called for three separate minors in the opening 11 minutes of the second period. The penalty killing which had a good night shut down the Centennials on each opportunity. In fact the Express held Merritt without a shot for the first 14 minutes of the second period. Their best chance never counted as a shot on goal as Matthew Kopperud beat Stevenson with a quick wrist shot, but rang it off the post.

One of the newcomers Jack Lippis had a hand in helping get the Express their second lead of the night. He skated the puck into the Merritt zone dishing it to Josh Bruce who set up Eric Linell who put a shot off the post. Troy Robillard playing in his 100th career BCHL game joined the rush and scored on the rebound for a 2-1 Express lead.

That goal was followed just 1:10 later by a goal from Lucas Wong who scored on a set up by Christian Sanda in the slot. The goals for both Wong and Robillard were their second of the season.

The task for the Express entering the third period was to protect their two goal lead. They faced a Merritt squad that was determined to claw their way back into it.

Lucas Wong scored the GWG - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Halfway through the period they took advantage of a turnover deep in the Express zone and Nick Wicks set up Bradley Cocca who scored to cut the Express lead to 3-2.

It was around this time that Express Head Coach Jason Fortier sensed his team needed to relax and re-focus on the task at hand. He called his timeout to reset their responsibilities defensively.

Kopperud put a second shot off the goal post in the 3rd period. Tyrell Buckley also snapped a shot off the post in the final frame.

The final test for the Express came in the final minutes of the game when Josh Wildauer was called for holding with 2:08 to play.

It was at this time Stevenson's play really shined. He made his best save of the game getting his left pad across to deny Zach Zorn with just over a minute to play. Stevenson finished with 20 saves. And in the two games vs. Merritt in the last week he turned aside 53 of 57 shots in a pair of Express wins.

The Express finished the night perfect on the night killing off all 6 Merritt powerplays.

Up next the Express will host the Trail Smoke Eaters on Friday night. 

EXPRESS ACQUIRE MACNAB

Jason Fortier wasn't done today adding to his forward group. He also acquired forward Jack MacNab (99) from the Nanaimo Clippers in exchange for future considerations.

MacNab brings plenty of size to the Express forward group at 6'5. Only defenseman Landon Fuller is taller on the Express who is listed at 6'5.5. He comes to the Express with a commitment in hand to the University of Notre Dame for the fall of 2018.

Prior to coming to Nanaimo, MacNab spent four seasons at the Culver Military academy. The same program that former Express Jack Surowiec played at. In his final two season at Culver Academy he had 55 goals and 112 points in 83 games. He also played one game with the Chicago Steel of the USHL last season.

This season the Indianapolis Indiana native has 2 goals and 8 assists for 10 points in 37 games with Nanaimo.

Welcome to the Express Jack.