MATTHEWS SPARKLES, BUT RIVERMEN PREVAIL AGAIN VS. EXPRESS

Kolby Matthews has had some of best games of the season in Langley. Saturday night was no different, but like the previous two games, Matthews and the Express ended up on the losing end. This time 1-0 on Saturday night. Click here for boxscore

Matthews counterpart on the other end Braedon Fleming posted his 3rd shutout against the Express this season. Langley finished the season with a 7-1 record against the Express this season.

Saturday's game was no different than plenty of other Express games in recent weeks that was a tight checking, playoff style contest.

It didn't take long to become clear that both goaltenders were going to be difficult to beat.

Kolby Matthews in particular made first period saves on William Stromp on a a 2 on 0 break, then a snapshot save followed by a wraparound save both on Langley forward Bronson Sharp. Matthews then capped off a 10 save first period with two more great saves off Bronson Sharp.

Fleming at the other end turned aside all 8 first period Express shots.

It was more of the same in the second period with the goaltenders going toe to toe.

Alex DiPaolo was hooked as he cut to the net but was still able to get a backhand shot away that was stopped by Fleming. The hook resulted in an Express powerplay. On the advantage the Express struggled to set up the quality chances they wanted.

Then in the dying seconds of the powerplay the puck was flipped back to the Express line where Bronson Sharp was able to get away from Pito Walton then drop a pass back to Jake Livingstone who was stopped by Matthews with another great save, but Livingstone buried the rebound for a shorthanded goal to open the scoring. It was Langley's BCHL leading 11th shorthanded goal of the season.

Kolby Matthews continued to hold firm into the third period keeping the Express within striking distance. But at the other end the Express weren't able to generate many top end chances on Braedon Fleming. With 8 minutes left in the 3rd period Alex DiPaolo was set up on a backdoor pass, but couldn't lift the puck over the shoulder of Fleming who hustled to his right to make the save.

Late in the third period Matthews made another sparking save on Bronson Sharp who saw more than enough of the Express goaltender at his best Saturday night.

The Express got one final shot for the equalizer late in the third period when Ryan Helliwell was called for tripping Regan Kimens with just over two minutes to play.

On the powerplay the Express decided against pulling Matthews for a two man advantage. Fleming capped off his shutout with a one timer save on Connor Gregga with 30 seconds left and then shutting the door on Christian Sanda on the rebound.

Fleming finished with 19 saves for the shutout. Matthews made 32 saves in the losing cause. He's unfortunate to not pick up a win in 3 games in Langley this season where he was fantastic in every single game and allowing only 3 goals on Langley's home ice. Langley has pulled within two points of the Express for 3rd place in the Mainland division with 8 games remaining on the schedule for the Express.

The Express hit the road for a pair of Interior division games this week in Salmon Arm and Merritt Tuesday and Wednesday. 

EXPRESS USE FULL THROTTLE 2ND PERIOD TO BLOWOUT WARRIORS

Jared Power scored his first BCHL hat-trick and second of his junior career in a 8-1 Express win over West Kelowna on a rare Monday night game. The Express used a six goal second period to take complete control of the game. Click here for boxscore

Little went right for the West Kelowna Warriors. Their lone goal of the night opened the scoring, Auston Chorney rushed the puck right into the Express zone then snapped a shot from the right wing past Kolby Matthews. That goal would be the lone knock on Kolby Matthews who had a great night the rest of the way shutting the door.

Power's big night got rolling on the Express first powerplay of the night. With Power standing in front of the net, he showed good hands deflecting a Connor Gregga shot to tie the game at one. Prior to the game, Connor Gregga was named the Express player of the month after 5 goals and 10 assists for 15 points in 9 December games.

It didn't take long for the Express to completely suck the life out of the Warriors in the second period.

Regan Kimens gave the Express their first lead converting a set up from the slot from Jordan Schulting for a 2-1 Express advantage at 4:18.

And from there the goals just kept coming.

Jared Power buried his second of the night on a scramble lifting a backhand over a sprawled out Connor Hopkins at 7:30.

2:11 later a quick pass up ice on the tape of Chase Danol allowed him to cut in from the left wing and his shot trickled through Hopkins and was poked home by Josh Bruce for his 3rd of the season to open up a 4-1 lead.

That goal chased Connor Hopkins after 4 goals on 21 shots. Warriors Head Coach Geoff Grimwood also called his timeout at that time.

The message didn't get through as the Express kept rolling along, and Brock Baier faced the brunt of the Express attack. He was welcomed to the game by facing a great odd man rush chance for Christian Sanda.

Power then put the puck past Baier completing his first Express hat-trick converting a tap in pass from Connor Gregga to make it a 5-1 lead. It was the first hat-trick for Jared Power since November 22, 2016 when he was a member of the Olds Grizzlys of the AJHL. Connor Gregga finished up three assists.

Jack Cameron got in on the fun 43 seconds after Power's third goal taking a feed in the slot and snapping home just his second of the season.

Then Alex DiPaolo capped off 6 Express goals in 11:05 burying the rebound of a Kabir Gill point shot to make it a 7-1 game.

Even though the Express middle period will be highlighted by the offensive eruption, Kolby Matthews had a very strong second period as well making 15 saves at the other end of the ice. He would finished with 36 saves for 12th win of the season.

The Express took their foot off the gas in the third period. The only goal of the frame came late in the period by Josh Wildauer poking home a loose puck in the crease after Jordan Schulting was set up backdoor by Regan Kimens.

There will be little time for the Express to enjoy their victory as they continue their busy week Wednesday when they host the Merritt Centennials. 

MATTHEWS COMMITTS TO RIT

COQUITLAM, BC - Coquitlam Express are proud to announce that 1999 goaltender Kolby Matthews has committed to the Rochester Institute of Technology for next season. Matthews, a Coquitlam native, has posted a .923 save percentage so far this season which ranks third in the BCHL among all eligible goaltenders and was the Express' player of the month for September.

"I'm very excited to commit to RIT for next year. I think this will be a really great fit for me, they have a great hockey culture with proven success and history as well as a strong academic program. I know this will be a big challenge for me but with that brings a big opportunity so I’m excited for this next step. Now I am able to focus on the rest of the year and bringing a championship back to my home town of Coquitlam." said Matthews.

"Kolby is a hard working and motivated individual. Since day one with the Express he has shown great character in the room and a strong work ethic on the ice. It is rewarding for coaches when you get to coach a player who is a great player plus a great person." said Coquitlam Express Head Coach and General Manager Jason Fortier. "His consistency, effort, daily habits and excellent play have earned him this opportunity. He is a player that fits the All Aboard vision." Added Fortier.

Matthews becomes the 9th player on the current Express roster to receive a NCAA scholarship and first committed this season.

The Express continue their 2018-19 campaign with a nooner versus the Langley Rivermen on Wednesday October 31 at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex. A win on Wednesday will give the Express sole possession of first place in the BCHL.

EXPRESS EXTEND WINNING STREAK TO 5

The Coquitlam Express have now won 5 games in a row following their 5-2 victory over the Langley Rivermen Friday night. Click here for boxscore

A strong night on special teams was key to the Express victory. They went 2 for 7 on the powerplay while killing off all 7 shorthanded situations.

Friday saw Express new comer Nicholas Wildgoose make his Express debut after he was acquired from the Vernon Vipers earlier this week.

He found the scoresheet picking up an assist on the Express first goal of the night. He was involved in a scrum with Christian Sanda digging for the puck below the goal line and Chase Danol came in and dug out the puck then roofing it over the shoulder of Alex Rolfe for a powerplay goal with one second remaining in the man advantage.

The goal for Danol was his 5th of the season and it was the 4th consecutive game he found the back of the net.

Josh Bruce and rookie Danny Pearson had been giving the Express valuable minutes in recent games,  Friday their strong play resulted in contributions on the scoresheet.

They worked the puck in the Langley zone. Then got some help from defensemen Drew Cooper who pinched down to keep the attack alive. Then Bruce found Pearson who was alone in the slot and he snapped home his first BCHL goal for a 2-0 Express lead after 20 minutes.

The second period is where the Express penalty killing really helped win the game for the home team. They were shorthanded for a full two minutes on three separate occasions in the first 13 minutes of the period. The penalty killing units did a great job of limiting time for the Rivermen to set up on the powerplay. Then pressuring the puck up ice and forcing turnovers and at times ragging the puck to kill more time off the Rivermen advantages.

Christian Sanda was one of the better penalty killers on the night using his speed all over the ice to create problems for the Rivermen powerplay.

Alec Capstick did cut into the Express lead sliding the puck under Kolby Matthews at 7:03.

But the lead was back to 2 just over 3 minutes later after a quick pass up the middle found Josh Wildauer at the Langley blueline, Regan Kimens joining the rush stretched his leg as far as he could to stay onside then he took a pass from Wildauer and roofed his second of the season for a 3-1 Express lead.

Drew Cooper's physical play has opened some eyes from the backend this young season.

In the 2nd period he delivered a solid and clean check on Chase Pletzke. Rivermen defensemen Jake Livingstone didn't see the hit that way and rushed to the defence of his teammate and dropped the gloves with Cooper. It ended up being the end of the night for both players following the automatic ejections after the evenly fought tilt.

Livigstone ended up with the extra penalty for instigating giving the Express a 4 on 3 powerplay. It didn't take long for the Express to strike as Dallas Farrell zipped a pass across to Alex DiPaolo who scored his 4th of the season for a 4-1 Express lead after two periods.

At the other end Kolby Matthews had made 18 saves by the end of the second period. His best to that point came on a breakaway for Daneel Lategan.

Garrett Daly cut the Express lead to 4-2 just over three minutes into the third period with a snapshot from the right point past the glove of Matthews. But that would be the final puck to get past Matthews who finished with 25 saves to post his third straight win.

Danny Pearson and Josh Bruce capped off their solid night to help set up Cooper Connell who snapped home his 3rd of the season at 13:27 past Braedon Fleming. The veteran Langley goaltender came in for the third period after Alex Rolfe was relieved after 4 goals on 10 shots through 40 minutes. It's the second straight game the Express have chased the opposition's goaltender.

The win kept the Express tied with the Chilliwack Chiefs for first place in the Mainland division with 12 points.

The Express will host the Prince George Spruce Kings on Sunday afternoon. 

EAGLES @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

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

Highlights produced by Eddie Gregory.