EXPRESS RALLY IN 3RD TO TOP EAGLES

Jake Toor scored the game winning goal - Photo courtesy of Damon James

For the second straight meeting the Express used a third period come back en route to a 4-3 win over the Surrey Eagles. Click here for boxscore

The previous meeting between the two teams needed overtime to decide the matchup, tonight the Express were able to get the job done in regulation.

The win clinches the season series between the two teams in favour of the Express 4-3.

Veteran experience helped the opposition carry them to victory over the Express in the last two games. Wednesday's game the Express can point to their veterans who played a key role in this win.

Alex Ambrosio (middle) scored twice - Photo courtesy of Damon James

A veteran opened the scoring, but it was a youngster helped get the play started. Christian Bosa saw a hit coming from former teammate Domenic Masellis and Bosa braced for it sending Masellis to the ice. Moments later Bosa intercepted a Masellis clearing attempt along the boards setting up Ambrosio who opened the scoring. The assist for Bosa was his third in his last two games.

The lead only lasted a shade under 90 seconds on a long stretch pass that allowed Ashton Calder to get a half step on the Express defence and Calder beat Lawson Fenton on a breakaway to tie the game at one.

Surrey had moments of owning the run of play in the Express zone. But one mistake resulted in a turnover allowing Ambrosio and Sam Kozlowski to break out on a two on one. Ambrosio had his options on the rush to send the puck across to Kozlowski who opened up for a one timer, Ambrosio decided to keep the puck and rang in a shot off the post for his second of the night giving the Express their second lead of the game.

The Express took their 2-1 lead to the second period. And they have Lawson Fenton to thank for that who made 19 saves in the opening period.

The power play had three chances to help break the game open for the Express. But they had trouble breaking out of their own zone and setting up in the Surrey zone letting an opportunity to build on their lead slip away.

Eagles AP Owen Williams evened things up for the visitors late in the second period when his original shot off a won draw in the Express zone was blocked, but his second shot beat a surprised Lawson Fenton for his first BCHL goal to tie the game at two.

There was an ominous sign to open the third period. The red light behind Lawson Fenton was left on for the first few seconds of the period. Three minutes later the Eagles took their lone lead of the night when Darius Davidson slid a shot under the pads of Fenton for a 3-2 Eagles lead.

Captain Luca Leone returned to the lineup after missing the previous three games. He played a key role in the Express comeback. He set up Will Lawrence at the 6 minute mark who tied the game at three. For Lawrence it was his third goal in his last three games vs. Surrey. He also has four goals in his last five.

Devon Mussio - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Leone then picked the puck up off the dasher boards in the Surrey zone and set up Jake Toor who scored just over three minutes later giving the Express a 4-3 lead. The Express rookie has 5 goals this season, three of them have come vs. Surrey.

A late third period power play for the Express could have put the game away, but it wasn't meant to be. The Express finished 0 for 5 on the power play. But it was another perfect night on the penalty killing shutting down three Surrey powerplays.

The Express survived one final Surrey push and they held on for the win. Lawson Fenton finished with 37 saves for his 6th win of the season.

Friday the Express host the Chilliwack Chiefs. They will then head to Langley Saturday night. 

COMETS SHINE IN 3RD PERIOD TO PULL AWAY FROM CAPS

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.

FENTON SHINES IN EXPRESS WIN OVER WILD

The Express will wear Matt Hutchinson's initials on their helmets for the rest of the season

It could very easily have been Lawson Fenton's best game of the season making 40 saves in a 2-1 Express win over the Wenatchee Wild. Click here for boxscore

Fenton's play kept the Express close allowing them to rally for the comeback in the third period.

It didn't take long to realize that the Express goaltender was going to have a busy night and he was on his game.

He turned aside all 17 first period shots to keep the Wild at bay. He made saves stretching out his right pad, scramble plays in his goal crease. But his best of the night was a glove save going to his left to steal a goal away from Alex Bates on a one timer on a hot pass from the left wing.

At the other end the Express were only able to muster 6 first period shots.

Brendan Harris found the lone crack in Fenton's armor early in the second period cutting into the slot and beating Fenton with a shot over his glove for his 10th of the season. For the rest of the night the Wild were shaking their head as they were unable to get another puck past the Express netminder.

In the third period the Express special teams allowed them to turn the game in their favour. It didn't start that way in the period however as they were unable to strike on a power play that carried over from the second period.

Minutes later the Express killed off a key Alex Ambrosio penalty keeping the deficit at one.

Finally the Express were able to strike on the power play, following a scramble in front of the Wild net the puck came out to Austin McIlMurray who turned and fired the puck home with Wild goaltender Garrett Nieto scrambling to get back in his net. The Express were 1 for 4 on the power play while going 2 for 2 on the penalty kill.

Then Fenton put an exclamation point on his stellar effort. In a span of about 35 seconds he made three key saves on close. All of those saves were thanks to Fenton finding a way to keep his pads flat and strong on the ice.

Jackson Cressey gave the Express their lone lead of the night finding the puck in front of Nieto and sliding it under the goaltender for his 26th goal of the season.. The Express finished with only 19 shots, but made their shots count.

The win concludes a season high 7 game home stand that saw the Express finish with a 4-3 record.

Sunday the Express will head down the road for an afternoon game with the Langley Rivermen. 

FENTON BACK STOPS EXPRESS TO VICTORY OVER WILD

Blake Hayward celebrates his 1st period goal - Photo courtesy of Damon James

On the first game of parents weekend for the Express, the players put on a good show for the moms and dads in attendance taking care of Wenatchee 4-1 in Coquitlam. Click here for boxscore

Lawson Fenton making his first start in two weeks had one of his best outings of the season turning aside 37 of 38 Wild shots.

Coming a solid effort Wednesday night in Penticton, the Express were looking to build off that outing despite the 1-0 2OT setback.

Right from the start the Express showed they were ready to play.

The top line of Jackson Cressey, Colton Kerfoot and Austin McIlMurray were buzzing in the Wild end. It didn't take long for them to break through with McIlMurray sliding the puck under Chase Perry for a 1-0 Express lead just 1:03 into the game.

Defenceman Taylor Green - Photo courtesy of Damon James

That goal put the game in motion and both teams were skating at a fantastic pace providing great entertainment for those in attendance.

Midway through the first period the Express added to their lead.

Jake Brien pinched in from the right point and got down the wall then fired the puck at the net and Blake Hayward found a loose puck in the crease and poked it home for a 2-0 Express lead.

Friday's game may have been Brien's best in the BCHL to date. He moved the puck confidently and was very active from the backend for the Express. He was also very rock solid in his own end of the rink. He also made sure to get at least one of his trademark hits on the Wild coming down the wing and connecting on the hit at the Express blueline.

Up 2-0 late in the first period the Wild pressed looking for a goal to get within at least one after 20 minutes. Matt Baker was thwarted by Fenton as the puck came to him alone in front of the Express net.

Lawson Fenton earned 1st star honours - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Fenton came up with a number of key saves late in the first period to preserve the Express lead.

In the second period the quality of saves from Fenton only improved.

Fenton's best save of the night came off Mike Coyne with Fenton firing out his glove to rob Coyne who pounced on the rebound of a Bryan Yoon point shot.

That was followed in quick succession off a reach back save with his stick off Tyler Rockwell. Then another save off Joe Drabin who found himself alone in front on a Wild power play.

Coquitlam extended their lead in the second period on the power play with Taylor Green sliding the puck across to Kerfoot who went to his backhand then slid the puck under Chase Perry for Kerfoot's Express leading 12th goal of the season.

Wenatchee finally got a puck past Fenton early in the third period. Logan Milliken from the slot snapped a shot low past the glove for Fenton just shy of the three minute mark.

That goal really sparked a Wenatchee push. But each time they were turned back from the rock solid play from Fenton.

Owen Stout - Photo courtesy of Damon James

The Express as a team bent in the third period as Wenatchee fired 16  shots but they never broke. They were content to relieve the Wild pressure immediately by icing the puck repeatedly. But they were never hanging on for dear life in the third period. The shots finished 38-24 in favour of the Wild. But that was more of a product of the Express sitting back and protecting their lead.

The penalty killing unit was stellar for the Express. They capped off a great night by going a perfect 6 for 6 by shutting down the Wild one final time in the third period with Owen Stout in the box shortly after the Wild got on the board.

Then Jarrell Pinchuk iced the game with just under 5 minutes to go snapping a shot past Chase Perry for his 3rd goal of the season and second against Wenatchee this season.

Colton Kerfoot picked up an assist on the goal and finished with three points with 1 goal and 2 assists. He now has 32 points on the season in 24 games which surpasses his rookie season total of 31 points in 40 games.

Jackson Cressey - Photo courtesy of Damon James

In their first two games against two of the top teams in the BCHL, the Express have been able to pick up 3 out of a possible 4 points. They're now 3-0-0-1 in their last four games. They've played two of their best games of the season to date. They've shown how they can compete against the best of the BCHL when they execute a game plan and truly play as a team.

Up next the Express will get another crack at the Penticton Vees. But the Express won't have a chance to snap the Vees streak as their run of 23 straight games came to an end with a 4-2 loss in Langley Friday.