EXPRESS PUT RIVERMEN TO BRINK IN BARN BURNER

Express celebrate game 4 win over Mainland division final.

The Coquitlam Express put the disappointment of a 5-0 loss the night before in the rear view mirror with a 5-3 win in game 4 of the Mainland division final.  Coquitlam now leads the best of 7, 3-1.

The fans in attendance were truly treated to an entertaining game made even better seeing the home team win.

The Express fourth line gave the big guns a boost when they opened the scoring on a Jackson Cressey goal set up by Daniel Lange with a shot that hit the leg of a Langley defenceman and got past the glove of Brock Crossthwaite.

It was the first goal of the playoffs from the Express fourth line. It's a great reward for a unit that all season long has provided such valuable minutes.

The Express had their chances to try an extended their lead with Bo Pieper walking out from behind the net to be denied by Crossthwaite. Then Joey Santucci going hard to the net had the rebound of a Jace Hennig slap shot bounce over his stick with a wide open net.

Shortly there after the Rivermen pulled even when Chris Forney fired a shot over the shoulder of a screened Gordie Defiel.

Matt Ustaski gave the Rivermen their first lead of the night when he come out from behind the Express net and was able to bounce the puck past a sprawled out Defiel.

Marc Biega continued his regular season success against the Rivermen in game 4 Tuesday. He scored pinching in from the left point and snapped a show low to the stick side on Crossthwaite.

A series is always about adjustments and the Express come out for the second period after tweaking their lines.

Captain Ryan Rosenthal was taken off line with Corey Mackin and Adam Rockwood. And he was put between the Pieper brothers to give the Express a little more size.

The new combination quickly started to click and generate chances. You couldn't not notice the Express captain on this night creating chances with his speed and powering the puck to the goal.

Before the Pieper's and Rosenthal made their mark on the score sheet the Rivermen took their second lead of the night when Tyson Witala set up Mitch McLain who had a wide open net to bury the puck a a 3-2 lead.

The lead only lasted 2:24 when the Express new line teamed up for the equalizer.

Bo Pieper set up Rosenthal who scored his 7th of the playoffs and the game was even at three.

You couldn't have asked for a more entertaining and evenly played game between these two clubs tonight. They played hard and clean. There was no extra circular activity. Neither team really gave the officials a reason to make any penalty calls.

They gave it all they had with so much on the line depending on the outcome for both teams.

The final 20 minutes was set up for the biggest period of the series for both teams. Was this series going to Langley for game 5 tied at two or with the Express leading 3-1?

The Pieper's and Rosenthal teamed up in the opening minute of the third period to give the Express their second lead of the night. Canon scored on a rebound 31 seconds into the frame for a 4-3 Express lead.

Finally the officials were forced to make a call with 4:20 remaining in the third period when Charlie Pelnik hit Joey Santucci into the boards and his head struck the glass.

On the ensuing power play Marc Biega struck for his second of the night blasting it past Crossthwaite for a 5-3 Express lead. The Express defenceman also had an assist for a 3 point night. Including the regular season, Biega has 8 goals vs. the Rivermen this season.

Gordie Defiel like the team in front of him had a bounce back performance with 31 saves.

The series now shifts back to Langley for game 5 at the Langley Events Centre Thursday with the Express looking to be the first team to punch their ticket to the third round of the playoffs.

Expect nothing more than the team with the BCHL's best record in the regular season to fight hard to defend home ice and save their season much like Prince George did in round one. 

RIVERMEN FLOOD EXPRESS EARLY FOR FIRST SERIES WIN

It's been a road team series through the first three games of the Mainland division final between the Express and Langley Rivermen.

Game 3 was the third win in as many games for the road team as Langley took game 3 in Coquitlam 5-0 to cut the Express series lead to 2-1.

Right from the get go the Rivermen were ready to play. They opened the scoring just 22 seconds into the contest after they won a battle for the puck behind the net and Jacob Reichert scored his first goal of the series on a wrap around on Gordie Defiel.

Game 3 also saw the return to the lineup for former Express Will Cook after an 11 game absence. He made his presence felt early in his playoff debut scoring a power play goal at 4:39.

Langley's top line which had been fairly quiet in the first two games of the series continued to make an impact as Jacob Reichert and Matt Ustaski set up Kevin Killistoff who scored off the rush to make it a 3-0 game at 11:35.

Things got even tougher for the Express at the end of the first period when Marc Biega was assessed a double minor penalty for spearing.

Austin Azurdia made the Express pay for the penalty 1:35 into the second when he banged home a loose puck that was lying in front of the Express goal.

The two power play goals allowed in game 3 matched the total the Express had allowed in the previous 8 games of the playoffs.

The penalty killing went in the wrong direction for a rare time in these playoffs for the Express.

On the other side the story remains the same on the power play. And that is powerless. The Express didn't score on the power play in game 3 finishing 0 for 5. And that's not to say if the power play made a difference in this game the outcome might have been different. But it is really having a tough time finding any success.

Their best chance to strike came with a 5 on 3 for 1:03 shortly after the 4-0 goal but nothing was accomplished. The Express are now 2 for 36 on the power play in the post-season.

I am one of many Express observers that are baffled by the lack of success when you consider the personnel that are available for selection.

Mitch McLain rounded out the scoring when he had Tanner Johnson's point shot bounce off him and past Gordie Defiel who had a rare tough night in the playoffs. For the Express net minder who has been so strong in the playoffs. There's no reason to believe he can't put this game behind him and be ready to make amends Tuesday.

Brock Crossthwaite at the other end turned aside 24 Express shots for his second shutout of the playoffs. His best save coming off a chance for Canon Pieper in the second period.

Few people would have predicted at the start of the series the Express would take it in 4 straight.

The Express must quickly dust themselves off and put this one behind them and look ahead to game 4 Tuesday.

One loss doesn't change the momentum in the series. It's how you respond that will show you what this edition of the Express is really made of.

EXPRESS UP 2-0 IN MAINLAND FINAL

Gordie Defiel and Tyson Witala in game 2 of Mainland final. Photo courtesy of Garrett James.

The Coquitlam Express have a 2-0 lead in the Mainland final after taking game 2 at the George Preston Rec. Centre 2-1 over the Langley Rivermen.

The Express got first period goals from Zach Hodder and Ryan Rosenthal and Gordie Defiel had another solid performance between the pipes with 36 saves for the win.

Early on saw a parade to the penalty box for both teams. Soon the Express found themselves with a 5 on 3 power play that they made count.

Ryan Rosenthal teed up a one timer for Zach Hodder who blasted it past the glove of Brock Crossthwaite at 2:39.

It was a much better first period for the Express in this one compared to 24 hours earlier where they were outshot 19-9.

The Express outshot the Rivermen 15-8.

The animosity between the two clubs starting to come to the forefront in game 2. Bo Pieper seemed to draw the ire of the Rivermen late in the first period. He was sent hard to the ice deep in his own zone and got up reaching for his face after a cross check from Austin Azurdia.

Then in the final minute of the first period Bo was decked and left some blood on the ice following a pass to Ryan Rosenthal who scored for a 2-0 Express lead.

Langley started to raise their game in the second period trying to get back into it. They fired 15 shots toward the Express goal but couldn't get a puck past Defiel. His best save came off Tony Bretzman who was robbed by Defiel's quick glove hand.

8 minutes into the third period Mark Whiteley was on the receiving end of a double team hit that left the Express defenceman shaken up. He did not return. On the play Evan Anderson was assessed a 5 minute major for a blow to the head penalty and given a game misconduct.

Anderson could be facing an automatic two game suspension according to the Junior A Supplement.

The Express power play couldn't take advantage of the 5 minute power play they could have used to put the game in the bag.

With renewed life Langley struck just after the penalty expired as Kevin Kilistoff scored to give what was at the time a listless game the Express appeared to have in control suddenly some drama and life for Langley.

The final 6:32 saw Langley look for the equalizer. Their best chance may have come on a scramble when the puck went in the air and landed on top of the with 2 minutes remaining.

The Express weathered that final push which included a few more key stops for Defiel.

Some final fireworks late in the game saw a boarding penalty assessed to Cody Boyd. Then at the end of the game Jacob Reichert picked up a double minor for a spear on Gordie Defiel and Zach Hodder was assessed a slashing penalty coming to the defense of his goaltender.

That sets the table for what should be a vital game 3 in the series Monday night in Coquitlam. The Express will look to try and put the BCHL's top team in the regular season into a 3-0 hole.  

EXPRESS TAKE GAME 1 OF MAINLAND FINAL

Defiel with one of his 36 saves in game 1. Photo courtesy of Garrett James.

The Coquitlam Express took game 1 of the Mainland division final with a 4-2 win over the Langley Rivermen at the George Preston Recreation Centre.

The Express used 3 third period goals and another strong performance from Gordie Defiel who finished with 36 saves.

Defiel set the tone for what would be a very strong night in the opening minute with a great glove save off Marcus Vela.

Canon Pieper opened the scoring for the Express when he was set up by Brendan Lamont and scored on a backhand deke past Brock Crossthwaite following a Langley turnover at their own blue line.

An unlikely source tied the game for Langley 2:31 later when AP Cameron Bertsch scored poking the puck past Defiel following a face-off in the Express end.

Langley peppered the Express crease with 19 shots in the first period but were only able to get the lone goal.

Gordie Defiel continued to punctuate his strong night in the second period and looked as calm and composed as ever turning aside the next 12 Langley shots in the second period. They had a 31-17 edge after two periods.

Coquitlam began to turn the game in their favor in the third period.

Ryan Rosenthal on a set up from Corey Mackin slid home his 5th of the playoffs for a 2-1 Express lead at 3:32.

Cody Boyd provided the goal from the third different line for the Express when he threw the puck at the net and it hit the leg of Rivermen defenceman Chris Forney and bounced in at 8:44.

2:04 later it was back to a one goal game when James Robinson took a drop pass from Austin Azurdia and snapped a wrist shot low to the stick side past Gordie Defiel.

Boyd then sealed the win for the Express when he struck for his second of the night with just over two minutes remaining when he converted a set up from Joey Santucci and deked past Crossthwaite and slid the puck home.

The strong finish in the third period saw the Express outshoot the Rivermen 15-7. Langley finished with 38 shots compared to 32 for the Express.

Coquitlam also killed off 4 Langley power plays and weren't able to convert on any of the 3 man advantages they had.

Game 2 of the series is back at the George Preston Rec Centre Saturday night with the Express looking to bring a 2-0 series lead back to Coquitlam. 

EXPRESS ELIMINATE SPRUCE KINGS IN 6, RIVERMEN NEXT

Express salute fans following game 6 win over Prince George.

The Coquitlam Express eliminated the Prince George Spruce Kings in game 6 of their Mainland division semi final with a 2-1 win.

It's the first series win for the Express franchise since the Kyle Turris years in 2006 and 2007 when the franchise was located in Burnaby. It's also the first time the Express franchise based in Coquitlam has won a playoff series.

Both teams hit the ice 24 hours after playing game 5 the night before 9 hour drive up north in game 5 following a 3-2 Prince George OT win.

Midway through the first period Prince George opened the scoring midway through the first period when Justin Rai took a drop pass from Cole Todd and snapped home his fourth goal of the playoffs.

Captain Ryan Rosenthal pulled the Express even just over 4 minutes later when he took a pass from Corey Mackin from behind the net and snapped home his fourth goal of the series to tie the game at one.

The second period saw Prince George open the period with a power play with Cody Boyd in the box. The man advantage was extended with 1 second left in the penalty when Joey Santucci was called for roughing.

The Express killed off both penalties after being a man down for nearly 4 minutes.

On the other side of the special teams coin the Express power play was starting to feel a little heat for not having scored entering game 6. It finally broke through midway through the second period when Bo Pieper banged home the rebound of a Cam Marks shot off the end boards midway through the second period for a 2-1 Express lead.

As the second period ticked down, the Express top line of Adam Rockwood, Corey Mackin and Ryan Rosenthal began to really dominate every time they were on the ice. Many of their shifts were spent in the Prince George zone trying to extend the Express lead.

The third period began with the Spruce Kings needing to raise their game with hopes of extending their season in an attempt to force a game 7.

And they sure did have a push. Prince George had chances for Skylar Pacheco and Jeremiah Luedtke ring off the post. Justin Rai was denied at the side the net. Gordie Defiel made a solid save on a deflection from the slot. The Express net minder saved his best save for a glove save off Mitch Eden.

The Express also killed off two more Prince George power plays in the third period and they finished a perfect 6 for 6 while a man down.

In a series that saw the teams combine for just 3 power play goals, 2 for Prince George and 1 for the Express, the Express went 1 for 23 on the power play while killing off 28 of 30 shorthanded situations in the series.

There was very little that separated these two teams through the 6 games. 4 of the 6 games were decided by just a single goal.

In the end I believe the Express depth which saw 10 different players score goals to just 5 for Prince George, and just some slightly better goaltending by Gordie Defiel than Alex Murray propelled this series win.

Round two of the playoffs will begin Friday night when the Express will line up against the BCHL regular season champion Langley Rivermen in the Mainland division final.

This series has the makings to be another hard fought and tight series similar to what the Express faced in round one. The biggest difference from round 1 to round 2 might be a more physical test against a bigger and more physical Langley team. It certainly has the makings to be another good one.

I'm sure I speak for all of you when I say I can't wait.