EXPRESS CLINCH BCHL'S TOP RECORD IN PENTICTON

Graphic by Jacob Lazare

For the first time in Express history they will finish with the top record in the BCHL after a 3-2 win over the Penticton Vees at the South Okanagan Events Centre. https://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/9633

The Express did it by securing the win while Penticton was making a hard charge to try and catch the Express. The Vees had won 10 in a row and 14 of their last 15 coming into the game.

The first meeting of the season between the teams saw some fireworks that were sparked in part by the 7-2 decision in favour of the Express. Friday's game was more reserved with much more at stake.

The first period was dead even between the two teams. The shots finished 13 apiece. And the teams traded goals. Adam Trotman at the edge of the goal crease converted a Josh Wildauer pass for a powerplay goal to open the scoring for the Express. That was followed 1:41 later by Lukas Sillinger tying the game for Penticton finishing off a give and go with David Silye and snapping his 20th of the season past the glove of Clay Stevenson.

Pentiction began to pepper the Express net in the second period. But the backbone of the Express Clay Stevenson was there to calm the waters. He was beaten once in the second period on a one timer by Jay O'Brien to give the Vees their lone lead of the night.

From then on Stevenson shut the door with 22 saves in the middle frame. His best sequence coming with 4 saves in about a 30 second span.

The powerplay pulled the Express on even terms with Cooper Connell at the side of the net burying his 17th of the season past Yaniv Perets.

Entering the third tied at two, the Express on the road simplified and locked the game down. Hoping to find the goal they need for the regulation win necessary for finishing first overall.

That goal came three minutes into the period thanks to a great pass by Noah De La Durantaye to spring Greg Lapointe on a breakaway and he slid home a backhand past Perets for his team leading 28th of the season and a 3-2 Express lead. Lapointe finished with 1 goal and 2 assists.

Then the Express locked the game down and slowed the pace down to slowly allow the clock to begin to tick down.

They did push for some insurance. Most notably Cooper Connell was down right robbed on a two on one by a marvellous glove save by Yanniv Perets. Then Lapointe was stoned by Perets on a another breakaway.

At the other end Clay Stevenson was less busy. But his best save of the final frame came on a re-direction off the rush by Stephen Holtz and Stevenson got his pad down on that one.

The final minute came with the Vees making one final push, but the hard work the Express had put in all season to get to this point rose to the occasion as the Express held on for the win to clinch the Ron Boileau trophy for the first time in the 19 season history of the Express.

Friday's game was Clay Stevenson's last game in an Express uniform. And he went out in style by getting the win to clinch the best record in the league. He also surpassed Kevin Jebson by becoming the first goalie in Express history to win 30 games in a season.

Stevenson's season will truly go down not only as the best in Express history by a goaltender. He had an all time best season for a BCHL netminder. His 1.77 GAA and .936 save percentage are the second lowest marks in league history.

Graphic by Jacob Lazare

He did not suffer a loss in regulation time after October 18th in Langley. And he was undefeated on home ice.

The Express will travel to Trail Saturday night to face Kent Johnson and the Smoke Eaters. 

EXPRESS VICTORIOUS IN HEAVY WEIGHT TILT VS. VEES

Top spot in the BCHL standings was on the line between the Express and the Penticton Vees. When it was said and done, the Express were victorious on the ice and in the alley coming away with a 7-2 result. Click here for boxscore

The win kept the Express perfect at home 13-0. And it was their 14th straight win on home ice dating back to the game 4 victory last season vs. Prince George in the playoffs. The 14 straight home ice wins matches the 14 in a row which is a team record set back in the 06-07 season.

Clay Stevenson won his 9th straight decision with 25 saves. He had to weather a early Penticton powerplay and made a nice stop on a deflection with his right leg early on to keep the game scoreless.

Christian MacDougall was in the box for the penalty after what appeared to be a good honest hit on the forecheck in the Penticton zone. That hit helped get MacDougall going to who was definitely involved all night.

Greg Lapointe opened the scoring by finding a loose puck in front of the net and burying the rebound of a Drew Cooper point shot. It was the 23rd time in 27 games this season that the Express have scored first.

Then before the second period got started the sparks began to fly. As the teams awaited for the start of the period the teams were lining up at centre ice. Connor Gregga was bumped by Conner Hutchison and the two had a few words. More on that later.

Lapointe struck again early in the second period from the side of the Vees net bouncing in a puck off Penticton goaltender Yaniv Perets. Lapointe leads the Express with 15 goals on the season.

Just shy of the 4 minute mark Penticton defenceman Conner Hutchison was whistled for a double minor for high sticking. And before the first penalty expired the Vees were fishing the puck out of their net after former Penticton captain Massimo Rizzo's shot was stopped but Connor Gregga on the other side buried the rebound for a 3-0 Express lead. Wednesday's game also marked the first meeting between the teams since their marquee off season trade that saw Rizzo come to Coquitlam and Alex DiPaolo head to the South Okanagan.

Midway through the second period Noah De La Durantaye was tabbed for a double minor high sticking penalty. This time around the league's top penalty killing in the Express stood tall to preserve the Express 3 goal lead. That was the highlight of the 18th perfect night on the penalty kill for the Express. The Vees finished 0 for 4 on the powerplay.

David Silye got the visitors on the board before the second period was done jamming in a loose puck at the side of the Express net for a 3-1 score through two periods.

Entering the third period the game featuring the top two teams in the BCHL had lived up to the hype with not much separating either team. This is when the sparks would really start to fly.

Connor Gregga was hit along the boards in the Penticton zone that resulted in a check to the head penalty for Colton Kalezic and a two man advantage for the Express. During the stoppage Hutchison and Gregga came together again and this time Gregga the gritty Markham Ontario, native dropped the gloves after having enough of the chirping and the Express forward ended up on top of the pile when it was said and done.

Then with Gregga in the room he would hear Brad Ong scoring on the two man advantage tipping home a set up from Will Margel for a 4-1 Express lead.

18 seconds later Ethan O'Rourke scored on the 5 on 4 burying the rebound of a Greg Lapointe shot to open a 5-1 Express lead. That goal chased Yanniv Perets after 5 goals on 23 shots.

Off the ensuing face-off at centre ice more fireworks saw Cooper Connell drop the gloves with Danny Weight and the Express forward left Weight down on the ice in the centre ice circle all the while getting the Express bench fired up as Connell was sent off.

Brad Ong capped off three Express goals in a 1:58 span tipping home his second of the night past Carl Stankowski and a 6-1 Express lead.

The chippiness didn't settle down in the final minutes of the third period. Noah De La Durantaye was on the receiving end of a hit by Jack Barnes that saw the Vees forward ejected with a 5 minute major for checking from behind. Thankfully for the Express De La Durantaye stayed in the game.

An Ethan O'Rourke penalty interrupted the 5 minute major powerplay for the Express. Just as O'Rourke's penalty expired Tyler Ho scored off the rush for a shorthanded goal to cut the lead to 6-2.

Christian MacDougall never let up his gritty style after his first period penalty. He got rewarded late in the game sliding home his first BCHL goal with just over a minute to play in the third period to put the Express up 7-2.

The win improves the Express to 22-5 on the season with 44 points and moving one point up on Penticton for top spot in the BCHL overall standings.

The 8 game homestand for the Express continues Friday night for the first of two visits this weekend from the Surrey Eagles.

EXPRESS @ VEES HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights of the first ever Express shootout win 3-2 in Penticton Wednesday.

Highlights produced by Eddie Gregory.

VEES @ EXPRESS GAME 4 HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights from the Vees 2-1 win over the Express Wednesday night to complete a four game sweep of the Interior Division quarterfinal.

Highlights produced by Eddie Gregory. 

EXPRESS GO DOWN SWINGING AGAINST VEES

Clay Stevenson and Chris Klack
Photo courtesy of Damon James.

The Express season came to an end Wednesday night with a 2-1 loss to the Penticton Vees. The BCHL's top team completed a four game sweep of the Interior Division Quarterfinal. Click here for boxscore

In a series that at times saw Penticton play at a high tempo that resulted in blow out wins in games 2 and 3, it was a tighter game for the Express with a slower pace despite the fact they were outshot 59-26.

Right off the bad the Express had a great scramble chance, but they couldn't jam the puck past Vees goaltender Adam Scheel.

Clay Stevenson got the call between the pipes in game 4. He relieved Brock Hamm in each of the previous two games. Game 4 quickly developed into a game of a lifetime for the Express goaltender. He was peppered with plenty of shots and made Penticton earn everything that they got.

Late in the first period Stevenson made a sequence of four saves while the Express were shorthanded on a Vees two on one and a breakaway by Wyatt Sloboshan.

Stevenson finished the first period with 22 saves. The Express had 11 shots on Adam Scheel.

The second period has been the difference maker for the Vees. It appeared to be more of the same for Penticton early in game 4. Owen Sillinger scored his first of the series on a power play at 1:22 to open the scoring.

Josh Wildauer - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Then less than a minute later Owen's younger brother Lukas rolled the puck to the net and it rolled in and the officials originally called goal. Then upon further discussion it was waved off on a kicking motion. That overturn of the original call didn't sit too kindly on the Vees bench.

Three minutes later the Express tied the game on the power play. Jonathan Sheardown's shot was deflected by Josh Wildauer on his first of the series.

Lukas Sillinger appeared to have scored again at the 13 minute mark on a rebound chance. This time the official said no goal and the call stood again to the dismay of the Vees.

Off the ensuing face-off Jonathan Sheardown was robbed on a odd-man rush and the game remained tied going into the third period.

Early in the third Clay Stevenson had some adventures playing the puck and there were a couple of occasions where he nearly got burned.

Jack MacNab - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Wyatt Sloboshan appeared to be the best candidate to break the deadlock. He had numerous breakaways, but was shutdown by Stevenson each time.

Finally Penticton broke through on a Jonny Sheardown shot that was blocked springing a 2 on 1 the other way and Taylor Ward converted the pass from Massimo Rizzo for a 2-1 Vees lead with 12 minutes to play.

As the third period ticked down the Express kept fighting for their season, but eventually the Vees held on.

Clay Stevenson should be proud with the goaltending effort he gave his team finishing with 57 saves allowing his team to battle right to the final seconds.

Penticton will face the Trail Smoke Eaters in the second round as all four Interior division series finished in sweeps. The other series will see the Vernon Vipers take on the Wenatchee Wild.

I would like to thank everyone who took the time to read these posts and visit the blog. 

VEES @ EXPRESS GAME 3 HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights from Penticton's 7-2 win over the Express in game 3 of the Interior Division Quarterfinal.

Play by play and highlights production by Eddie Gregory.

VEES 7 EXPRESS 2

Christian Sanda & Jonny Tychonick - Photo courtesy of Damon James

The Penticton Vees took advantage of a shorthanded Express team and opened up a commanding 3-0 series lead with a 7-2 win.

The Express were missing 7 players due to various ailments and had 5 AP's in the lineup. The most notable absence for the Express was defenseman Troy Robillard.

Despite the shorthanded roster, the Express valiantly did battle at times with what they had. But as the game went on the Vees overall depth and skill allowed them to take over as the game went deeper.

Jack MacNab surprised everyone in the building opening the scoring with a wrist shot from outside the blueline that snuck past the blocker of Adam Scheel.

The early hole was the spark for the Vees to start moving their feet and push the pace on the Express.

In game 2, a lengthy series of puck control shifts in the Express zone in the second period eventually led to the 3-1 goal by Jackson Keane. The equalizer for the Vees in the first period developed under similar circumstances.

After 90 seconds of puck control in the Express zone. The puck again found Keane's stick who scored to tie the game at one.

On the first shift after that goal Jason Fortier sent out Christian Sanda, Josh Wildauer and Eric Linell who got the momentum back for the Express and Sanda scored on a loose puck in front of the net with his second of the series.

Brock Hamm was busy at the other end, and he was strong finishing the period with 24 first period saves to preserve the Express lead after 1 period.

Penticton has really made hay in this series to turn games in their favour in the second period. Jack Barnes scored the game winning goal in the second period in game 1. Saturday in game 2 the Vees struck four times to pull away. Game 3 was no different.

Ryan Stack - Photo courtesy of Damon James

A Penticton power play led to a goal by Wyatt Sloboshan who snapped a back door feed to even the game at 2.

Midway through the period Marcus Mitchell dug the puck out of traffic as the Vees worked the puck in the Express zone. Mitchell then walked in off the boards and surprised Brock Hamm with a shot from the half boards finding the net on the short side.

The Vees top end skill started to really take over by this point. Just 10 seconds after Mitchell's goal Chris Black cut in the Express zone and some how below the goal line was able to tuck in the puck inside the post on Brock Hamm.

Then with 3 minutes left in the period Micheal Campoli made a slap pass to Jared Nash who quickly tipped the puck to Sloboshan who scored his second of the night on the prettiest goal of the evening.

Penticton has outscored the Express 9-1 in the second period in this series and 8-0 in the last two games.

In the final minute of the second period a dangerous hit by Dominic Davis from behind on Nicky Leivermann sent the defenseman crashing head first into the boards. There was a lengthy delay as the medical personnel took every necessary precaution. The Colorado Avalanche defenseman was eventually taken off the ice on a stretcher. But the Vees post-game provided good news on the defenseman.

We have received word that Nicky Leivermann has avoided a serious injury after being pushed into the boards tonight. He won’t play tomorrow but should have a speedy recovery.

— Penticton Vees (@PentictonVees) March 7, 2018

Davis was given a five minute major penalty and game misconduct for the hit.

Penticton struck twice on the ensuing power play on Klack's second of the night and Jack Barnes scoring his second of the series to round out the scoring. The Vees scored three power play goals for a second straight game.

The Vees peppered Express goaltenders Brock Hamm and Clay Stevenson with 51 shots. Hamm was relived for a second straight game after 7 goals on 40 shots.

Game 4 of this series goes Tuesday night with the Express playing to keep their season alive.

VEES 9 EXPRESS 2

The Penticton Vees gave the Express a cruel and harsh lesson in will and desire in playoff hockey in game 2 of the Interior division quarter final. The final result saw the Vees hand the Express a 9-2 loss for a 2-0 Vees series lead. Click here for boxscore

After a game 1 that lacked your typical playoff emotion due to the Express and Vees not meeting often during the regular season, game 2 started to see some dislike emerge between the two teams.

With Will Lawerence in the box for high sticking, Penticton struck early to open the scoring. The Vees got the puck to the Express crease and Chris Klack was allowed to swat home a loose puck with minimal threat of the Vees goal scorer having to be knocked on his backside in order to score the goal.

Back to back Vees penalties resulted in powerplays for the Express, but they couldn't take advantage of the opportunity. The second Vees penalty was handed to Michael Campoli for a check from behind on Troy Robillard and the Vees defenseman was given a minor and a game misconduct.

Massimo Rizzo sped into the Express zone and roofed a backhand just under the crossbar on Brock Hamm for a 2-0 Vees lead at 14:52.

29 seconds later the Express had a response rushing the puck into the Vees zone with Eric Linell feeding Haydn Delorme who got the puck to the crease and Jack Lippis jammed it home to cut the Fees lead to 2-1.

In the final seconds of the first period Jake Toor got drilled into the boards from behind by Kenny Johnson. The Express forward did need some help to get off the ice and the Vees defenseman was not penalized for the hit. To give Toor credit he did return for the second period.

Entering this series there was a vast discrepancy in playoff experience in favour of the Vees due in large part to Penticton entering the series as defending BCHL champions. Along the way for the Vees they learned how to raise their intensity and compete level in order to have success in the playoffs.

That was on full display in the second period as the Vees took over the game. They were first on pucks more often and battled harder to get the puck back.

It was that Vees work ethic that didn't take long to start paying off. After a lengthy shift of Penticton puck control in the Express zone, eventually they got the break down they were looking for and Jackson Keane banged home a loose puck in the goal crease for a 3-1 Vees lead.

The Penticton pressure continued. After more puck control and strong play by the Vees in the Express end, the puck was played back to the point to Nicky Leivermann whose shot was stopped by Hamm, but Taylor Ward was alone in front of the net for a 4-1 Vees lead.

By this point Penticton was firing on all cylinders. Dakota Bautin on a 2 on 1 took his time before ripping a shot past the glove of Brock Hamm for a 5-1 Vees lead.

Once the second period came to a close it was 6-1 Vees on a goal by Massimo Rizzo for his second of the night. That goal was the result of more Vees puck hunting then setting up Rizzo who ripped a quick shot over Hamm's glove.

The foot wasn't taken off the throttle to open up the third period. Taylor Ward scored his second of the night rushing into the Express zone and snapping a shot past the glove of Hamm for a 7-1 Vees lead at 1:10.

Marcus Mitchell buried the Vees third power play goal of the night winning a puck battle in the Express crease for a 8-1 lead. At this point Jason Fortier gave Brock Hamm the rest of the night off after 8 goals on 27 shots. Many of the 8 goals that beat the Express co-MVP was the result of break downs in front of him and the goaltender wasn't at fault for the rough night.

Clay Stevenson wasn't expecting to see any action on his 19th birthday. Especially under the circumstances with his team trailing 8-1. He was beaten by Taylor Ward's hat-trick goal at 7:38. Ward finished with three goals and two assists.

With the lopsided score, you watch to see who is continuing to battle hard when they're on the ice. Christian Sanda, Eric Linell and Josh Wildauer kept up their effort level. Wildauer fed Linell in the slot who scored on a second effort to round out the scoring.

The teams have two days to rest up before game 3 goes Tuesday night in Coquitlam. It's a good time for the Express to evaluate how hard they're willing to battle and compete to make sure this series will at least return to Penticton for a game 5 Friday night.

EXPRESS @ VEES GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights from the Vees 2-1 win over the Express Friday night in game 1 of the Interior division quarterfinal.

Highlights produced by Eddie Gregory. 

VEES TAKE GAME 1

The Express opened their Interior division quarter final with a tight 2-1 loss to the Penticton Vees. Despite a valiant push by the Express, they couldn't break through for the equalizer late and trail this series 1-0.  Click here for boxscore

The opening 20 minutes saw the teams with chances at both ends. In the opening minute Chris Klack found himself alone behind the Express defense and was stopped by Brock Hamm as he went to the backhand. That save would be the start of a very impressive junior hockey playoff debut for Hamm. Friday was his first ever junior playoff game despite three years in the WHL Saskatoon and one year with Humboldt of the SJHL.

At the other end Eric Linell raced into the Vees zone unleashing a wrist shot that produced a juicy rebound for Jonny Sheardown, but Adam Scheel came to his right to rob the Express defender.

Penticton opened the scoring just shy of the 5 minute mark. Off a won draw in the Express zone by Taylor Ward, Johnny Tychonick did a nice job of walking the line then beating Hamm with a wrist shot that he never saw.

The early goal didn't allow Penticton to open the flood gates and really start to take over the play. The Express stayed right with the top team in the league.

Josh Wildauer came close to evening things up for the Express with a shot that clanged off the goal post on a first period power play.

In the opening minute of the second period the Express did strike. Jack MacNab got the puck into the Vees zone and Will Lawerence on the forecheck forced the turnover then set up Christian Sanda to even the game at one.

It was shortly following this goal that the game started to pick up for the Vees and Hamm started to shine.

He stopped a tip play in the goal crease on Marcus Mitchell to keep the game tied at one.

One momentary let down allowed the Vees to go ahead. A turnover along the boards quickly developed into a two on one down low and Mitchell put a pass on the tape of Jack Barnes who converted the set up for a 2-1 Vees lead.

Right off the face-off following the 2-1 goal Hamm stopped Jackson Keane with a quick glove save. Minutes later Hamm made a save on a Wyatt Sloboshan breakaway to keep the Express deficit at one heading to the third period.

The Vees lead was holding up at 8:46 of the third period when Josh Wildauer was drilled from behind by James Miller who was given a 5 minute major for a check from behind and a game misconduct. Devon Mussio didn't take too kindly to the hit delivered on Wildauer and came to his defense and was given a two minute roughing penalty. The Mussio penalty shaved off two minutes of a 5 minute power play the Express hoped to use for the equalizer. On the three minutes of power play time they did have, they had possession that led a few shots directed towards Scheel but nothing overly dangerous.

Meanwhile at the other end Hamm was still on top of his game keeping the Express one shot away from sending the game to overtime. Hamm made 14 third period saves. He finished with 37 saves and was named the game's second star.

In the dying moments as the Express made their final push they won a number of offensive zone draws that led to some of the best scoring chances of the night.

Will Lawerence was denied as he tried to stuff in the puck at the side of the net. Then off the next draw Josh Wildauer had a great chance in the slot and he let a good shot go that forced Scheel to fight with all he had to get control of the puck before the Express could get a stick on it.

Troy Robillard also had a good wrist shot chance off won face-off.

Eventually the clock ran out and the Vees held on to take the opener. Penticton outshot the Express 39-19.

Both teams were 0 for 2 on the power play.

Game two goes Saturday night 6pm in Penticton.

Game's 3 and 4 will be played Tuesday and Wednesday night in Coquitlam. 

EXPRESS VS. VEES BY THE NUMBERS

EXPRESS & VEES BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL RECORDS
EXPRESS – 15-38-1-4, 35PTS, 5th in Mainland, 16th in BCHL	VEES – 40-12-3-3, 86PTS, 1st in Interior, 1st in BCHL
HEAD TO HEAD MEETINGS
Vees 2-0 Feb. 14 @ PEN 7-1 Vees Feb. 16 @ CQ 5-1 Vees
LAST 10 GAMES
EXPRESS - 1-8-1-0	VEES - 7-2-0-1
GOALS FOR, GOALS AGAINST
EXPRESS – GF 138, 17TH Avg. 2.37 GA – 210, 13TH Avg. 3.62, Diff. -72, 15th	VEES – GF 216, T-3RD Avg. 3.72 GA 130, 2nd, Avg. 2.24, Diff. +86, 2nd
SPECIAL TEAMS
EXPRESS PP – 14.7% - 15th PK – 81.7% - 10th	VEES PP – 22% - 3rd PK – 86.1% - 1st
Photo courtesy of Damon James OVERTIME RECORDS
EXPRESS 3-1-4	VEES 5-3-4
TOP SCORERS EXPRESS	TOP SCORERS VEES
Eric Linell – 58GP, 28G, 18A, 46PTS Josh Wildauer – 56GP, 11G, 23A, 34PTS Sam Kozlowski – 55GP, 8G, 22A, 30PTS Troy Robillard – 58GP, 5G, 21A, 26PTS Christian Sanda – 55GP, 9G, 15A, 24PTS	Owen Sillinger – 55GP, 32G, 34A, 66PTS Jonny Tychonick – 47GP, 9G, 37A, 46PTS Taylor Ward – 45GP, 21G, 22A, 43PTS Dakota Boutin – 47GP, 20G, 18A, 38PTS Massimo Rizzo – 49GP, 12G, 24A, 36PTS
EXPRESS GOALTENDERS	VEES GOALTENDERS
Brock Hamm – 27GP, 10-14-3, 1SO, 2.90 GAA, .911 Sv.% Clay Stevenson – 23GP, 4-16-0, 3.89 GAA, .885 Sv.%	Adam Scheel – 45GP, 29-12-3, 3SO, 2.08 GAA, .927 Sv.% Nolan Hildebrand – 19GP, 11-3-0, 2.42 GAA, .910 Sv.%
SCORING VS. VEES	SCORING VS. EXPRESS
Jack MacNab – 2G, 0A 2PTS Sam Kozlowski – 0G, 1A, 1PT Jack Lippis – 0G, 1A, 1PT Troy Robillard – 0G, 1A, 1PT	Owen Sillinger – 3G, 3A, 6PTS Wyatt Sloboshan – 1G, 2A, 3PTS Nick Leivermann – 1G, 2A, 3PTS Ryan Sandelin – 2G, 0A, 2PTS 7 others Tied w/ 2PTS
GOALTENDING VS. VEES	GOALTENDING VS. EXPRESS
Clay Stevenson – 0-1, 7.00 GAA, .837 Sv.% 36/43 Brock Hamm – 0-1, 5.17 GAA, .852 Sv.%	Adam Scheel – 2-0, 1.00 GAA, .947 Sv.%
HEAD TO HEAD SPECIAL TEAMS
CQ PP – 1/7 – 14.2% PEN PK – 6/7 – 85.8%	PEN PP – 2/4 - 50% CQ PK – 2/4 - 50%

VEES 5 EXPRESS 1

Penticton completed a sweep of the Express in a home and home set. They followed up their 7-1 win Wednesday in Penticton with a 5-1 win Friday night in Coquitlam. Click here for boxscore

Like Wednesday's meeting some best scoring chances for the Express came in the first period, just the finish wasn't there. Jack MacNab powered the puck to the net creating a scramble opportunity that Vees goaltender Adam Scheel had to fight hard to keep out.

Cody Hough got the call for a second straight game as an AP on the blueline, like Wednesday he had some impressive moments. He was confidently moving the puck out of the D zone. He also had a good one timer chance.

Penticton opened the scoring on a power play on Nick Leiverman's slapshot that over powered Brock Hamm.

Late in the first period Lukas Sillinger pounced on a loose puck that was sitting in the Express zone and snapped a backhand through Brock Hamm's pads for a 2-0 Vees lead after the first period.

The Vees didn't wait until the third period to ramp up their game to another level.

Cassidy Bowes made it a 3-0 game burying the rebound of Leiverman's slapshot that wired off the glass.

Owen Sillinger followed Wednesday's two goal effort with another Friday. He buried a set up following some good passing in the Express zone for his 30th of the season on the power play. Penticton was 2 for 2 on the power play. The Express were 0 for 3.

Then Sillinger converted the prettiest goal of the night. Sillinger and Chris Klack broke out shorthanded and Black dished a beautiful backhand pass to Sillinger who scored his second of the night for a 5-0 lead after 40 minutes. The Vees outshot the Express 12-1 in the second period.

The game settled into auto pilot in the third period. Jack MacNab broke Scheel's shutout bid with his second goal in as many games with just 1:12 to play to round out the scoring at 5-1.

On a bright note for the Express they secured the final BCHL playoff spot courtesy of Nanaimo's 7-1 win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The Express will cross over to the Interior division and face the top seed which at this point will be Penticton.

Saturday night the Express will host the Mainland division champion Prince George Spruce Kings.

EXPRESS @ VEES HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights of the Vees 7-1 win over the Express Wednesday.

Highlights produced by Eddie Gregory. 

VEES 3RD PERIOD EXPLOSION DOWNS EXPRESS

In the first of a home and home the Penticton Vees used a five goal third period to pull away from the Express in a 7-1 win. Click here for boxscore

The Express not only had to battle the BCHL's top team, they also had to battle a bug that had inflicted a few players in the room.

Cody Hough was called up from the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs of the BC Major Midget League on the blueline. The AP had a prominent game right off the bat helping create some of the better scoring chances for the Express in the first period. On one particular play he received a pass on the rush and snapped a shot wide.

Ryan Sandelin opened the scoring for the Vees getting go the net to create traffic in front of Clay Stevenson and re-direct a Jonny Tychonick point shot for his 7th of the season.

The shots in the first period were 15-5 for the Vees, but didn't reflect some of the chances the Express were able to create.

Adam Scheel finished with 20 saves on the night. One of his best came on a 2nd period Express power play to deny Josh Wildauer at the side of the Vees net.

Midway through the 2nd period Michael Campoli's shot from the wing was stopped by Clay Stevenson who kicked out a juicy rebound that Owen Sillinger slammed home from the slot for his 28th of the season. The 28 goals for Sillinger matches the total of Express leader Eric Linell.

The Express opened the third period with a power play with Chris Klack serving a interference penalty.

The visitors used the power play to cut into the Vees lead early in the third period. Jack MacNab re-directed a Troy Robillard point shot at the :58 second mark.

Down a goal in the third for the Express created the hope that a comeback was plausible for the Express.

It didn't take long for the Vees to absolutely crush those hopes.

Just under 4 minutes later Ryan Sandelin scored his second of the night beating Stevenson with a wrist shot from the right wing. It's at this point the Vees put the game to bed.

Kenny Johnson scored his first of the season from the left wing on a shot that changed directions on a skate to make it 4-1 just over three minute later.

Owen Sillinger then walked out of the corner and roofed a shot for a 5-1 Vees lead on Sillenger's 2nd of the night.

56 seconds later the Express got a double whammy. Taylor Ward scored on a wrist shot to make it 6-1. Also on the play Josh Bruce went down on a knee one knee collision with a Vees player. The Express forward was in a fair amount of discomfort as he needed help to get off the ice.

Wyatt Sloboshan capped off a run of 5 goals in 10:22 for the Vees to round out the scoring.

The final shots finished 42-21 in favour of Penticton. The loss extended the Express losing streak to 6.

The teams meet again Friday night in Coquitlam in the second half of the home and home. 

EXPRESS ACQUIRE MASELLIS

Photo courtesy of Garrett James

The Coquitlam Express have added some size and experience for their blueline for next season.

They have acquired defenceman Domenic Masellis (97) from the Penticton Vees for future considerations.

The Burnaby native stands at 6'3 and weighs in 225 pounds. He will be entering his fourth BCHL season next year in 2016-17.

Masellis has 148 career BCHL games mostly played in the Lower Mainland with the Surrey Eagles and Langley Rivermen. The Vees acquired Masellis in November 2015 and in 47 games last season with Langley and Penticton he had 1 goal and 7 assists for 8 points.

In his career he has 3 goals and 13 assists for 18 points with 203 penalty minutes. He's also dressed in 20 career BCHL playoff games, making the post season in each of his first three years in the BCHL.

Welcome to the Express Domenic.

VEES WITH CLINICAL PERFORMANCE VS. THE EXPRESS

Penticton had their 23 game winning streak come to an end last night in Langley Friday. Saturday, the Vees took their frustrations out on the Express like a nest of angry bees. 

The 38 minutes between the opening minute of the game and the final minute of the second period Penticton put on quite a display en route to a 8-2 win over the Express. Click here for boxscore

Friday night vs. Wenatchee Austin McIlMurray opened the scoring for the Express 1:03 into the first period. Saturday he pretty much matched that by opening the scoring at 1:04 of the first period.

Then the Vees began to take control of the game.  Their speed and skill was on display in full force. 

Penticton would go on to score the next 8 goals in the game. 

Tyson Jost and Dante Fabbro who are expected to be first round picks in this coming NHL draft looked every bit the reason why they get the attention they do.

Fabbro showed a great release and the ability to jump into the play on his two first period goals. Jost showed his great hands in tight for his lone goal of the night tucking the puck past Tyger Howat. He was dangerous almost every single shift he was on the ice for the Vees and far away the best player on the ice. Jost finished with 5 points with one goal and four assists. 

In addiiton to the two goals from Fabbro and the single from Brodzinski, Demico Hannoun also scored in the first period with a nice toe drag then unleashing a wrist shot while falling to the ice. 

At one point in the first period the Express had a 5-2 advantage in shots. By the end of the first period the shots were 19-8 Penticton who took a 5-1 lead to the second period. 

As good as the Vees looked in the first, Penticton looked even better in the second period. Scott Conway and Chris Gerrie scored 33 seconds apart to make it 7-1 Vees. That meant the end of the night for Tyger Howat after allowing 7 goals on 24 shots. 

Lawson Fenton came in to finish the game. He allowed the 8th Vees goal on the 2nd of the night for Easton Brodzinski.

But if you're looking for any positives for the Express in this game it's how Fenton shut the door the rest of the way. Fenton finished with 19 saves on 20 Vees shots. 

At the other end Anthony Brodeur knew what his father Martin went through during his heyday with the Devils seeing very little rubber. The Express didn't register their first shot of the second period until the 10:27 mark off the stick of Charlie Barrow. 

I had tracked the shots on goal from the 3:30 mark of the first period to the 19 minute mark of the second period and I had the Vees with 35-4 run of shots. 

Taylor Green rounded out the scoring burying his own rebound for a power play goal and his first of the season in the final minute of the second period. 

Sure this game didn't go the Express way, but there's still plenty of good things for the Express going forward. When you look at the schedule as a whole this week, they had three tough games. And they came away with 3 out of a possible 6 points. And they were one shot away from getting 4 points this week. 

That's the positive to take out of this week. They can only build on it going forward starting next Friday vs. Prince George. 

VEES EXTEND STREAK TO 23 DESPITE VALIANT EFFORT BY EXPRESS

For the Express heading up to Penticton if you were to list a number of items for the Express to tick off to snap the Vees 22 game winning streak they would be...

- Top notch goaltending - check

- Smart decisions with the puck - check

- Disciplined play - check

- Be ready to go for 60 minutes and possibly more - check

The Express did all those things and played their best game of the season in Penticton Wednesday but lost 1-0 in double overtime. Click here for boxscore

Wednesday's game may have been the game of the season in the BCHL this year. Tyler Howat for the Express and Anthony Brodeur for the Vees were stellar in their respective creases. 

Head Coach Barry Wolff knew entering this week that his team had three big tests with two games vs.  Penticton and one vs. Wenatchee. He pushed his troops hard at practice to be ready to go. And in their first test they rewarded their head coach with a strong game. 

The Express caught a break right from the start with Colton Poolman of the Vees being called for delay of game after he failed to leave the ice on time following the conclusion of warm up. 

That allowed the Express to settle in the game and try and put the Vees in an early hole. The Express weren't able to convert on the power play. Minutes later the Express were on the power play a second time. This time around they were a little more threatening around the Vees net but weren't able to get a puck past Brodeur. 

The Express started the game by outshooting the Vees 11-0. 

One of the Vees best chances in the first period came off the stick of Demico Hannoun who had a shorthanded breakaway and couldn't beat Howat trying to go to the backhand. (Full disclosure here) It was hard to tell from my broadcast position so far away if Howat got a piece to make a save or Hannoun missed the net. 

Scott Conway came close to opening the scoring in the first period ringing a shot off the crossbar from the left circle. Then the best chance for either team in the first period came off the stick of Tyson Jost, he had the puck at the side of a wide open Express net and I still don't know how he was unable to convert the tap in and it was scoreless after one period. 

The bounces continued to go Howat's way in the second period when Hannoun rang a shot off the post from the right wing. Owen Sillenger also ripped a shot off the red metal from the left wing. 

The Express had another solid period outshooting the Vees 13-10 and had a 27-18 advantage in shots through 40 minutes. 

The Vees really began to press in the third period looking to break the deadlock. But Howat only raised his game to match the Vees level. 

Tyson Jost had three good chances in regulation play to score. Aside from the tap in he missed, he was robbed by Howat on the power play after unleashing a one timer from the right circle only to be turned away by the black and red leather glove of Howat. Jost also had a good chance to score in the final two minutes of the third period as he used his speed to attack the Express defence and take the puck to the net. 

Blake Hayward watched for an anxious two minutes in the third period sitting on the penalty box after a solid play on the back check. Hayward came out of the box and joined Colton Kerfoot to set up a two on one. Kerfoot slid the puck across the Hayward who couldn't finish the chance as Brodeur reached back to keep the puck out. 

The Express executed their game plan to a "T" for a full 60 minutes but not a single goal was scored. So for just the second time in franchise history the Express had played 60 minutes of scoreless hockey. The only other occasion was the season opener for the Express at the first ever BCHL showcase where Brady Shaw gave the Express a 1-0 OT win over Victoria on September 12, 2013. 

But this game was historic for the Express being the first game to be scoreless going into 3 on 3 overtime after nothing was decided of 5 minutes of 4 on 4. 

After 65 minutes of scoreless hockey, it seemed like the game ended in a blink of an eye in 3 on 3. The Vees won the opening draw and Scott Conway on the opening possession attacked Jackson Cressey one on one and beat him then just trickled a shot through Howat for a heart breaking ending for the Express and extending the Vees winning streak to 23 just 16 seconds into double overtime. 

The loss for the Express was disappointing. But they showed what they can do when they're on their game. Play smart and be able to compete with the best team in the country. The Express will have another crack at the Vees Saturday night in Coquitlam. Before that they will host the Wenatchee Wild Friday.

VEES TOO MUCH FOR EXPRESS

The BCHL's best team were too much for the Express to handle for the full 60 minutes in a 4-1 Penticton win Friday night.

The win completed a two game sweep of a home and home between the two teams. Penticton took the opener 5-2 in the South Okanagan Wednesday.

Right from the drop of the puck the Vees were too much for the Express to handle. Their speed and control of the play all night was the story of the game.

The Vees got off to a better start than they did the night before. They opened the scoring litte more than six minutes into the game when Chris Tai had trouble covering up the puck in the crease and Jack Ramsay pounced on the gaffe and poked the loose puck lying in the blue paint.

Before the first period was half over the Vees already had a 14-1 advantage in shots. They finished the night with 53 which sets a new season high for most shots allowed in a game for the Express. The previous mark was 51.

Penticton added two more goals in the second half of the first period on blasts from Gabe Bast and Lewis Zerter-Gossage on the powerplay for a 3-0 Vees lead heading to the second period.

Chris Tai was tickted with the loss, but were it not for his stellar play especially in the final two periods the score would have been more lopsided. He stopped 31 of the 32 shots sent his way in the final two periods. Including all 18 sent his way in the second period.

Tyson Jost scored the Vees fourth goal of the night three minutes into the third period.

Brett Supinski broke Hunter Miska's bid for his 5th shutout of the season midway through the third period set up by Corey Mackin and Austin Anselmo. That goal was the lone set back on a relatively easy night for Miska who faced just 21 Express shots. That number matches a season low for shots on goal for the Express this season.

The busy week of four games in five nights for the Express resumes Saturday in Nanaimo then heading down to the Island to Victoria on Sunday afternoon.

Defenceman Taylor Green (95) made his Express debut Friday night. He was acquired by the Express from Nanaimo in exchange for future considerations. The 6'7 blueliner comes to the Express with 144 career games of WHL experience with Seattle, Brandon and Moose Jaw. He played 7 games with Nanaimo this season picking up one assist.

The BCHL trade deadline is Saturday night at 6pm for trades outside the BCHL and 8pm for deals within the BCHL.

EXPRESS ACQUIRE LAMONT

The Coquitlam Express have acquired forward Brendan Lamont (94) from the Penticton Vees in exchange for the rights to forward Michael Rebry (93).

Lamont has split this season with the Vees and the Trail Smoke Eaters where he had 7 goals and 12 assists for 19 points in 41 games.

In 156 career BCHL games with Merritt, Trail and Penticton the Langley native has 19 goals and 37 assists for 56 points.

The Express acquired Rebry's rights from Penticton on January 10th, 2013 as part of the future considerations in the trade that saw John Siemer sent to Penticton. He was attending Western Michigan University this season where he dressed for only 8 games and didn't register a point. 

EXPRESS SWEEP HOME AND HOME WITH VEES

4 points up for grabs, and 4 points grabbed by the Coquitlam Express in their home and home series with the Penticton Vees.

The Express took the opener in Coquitlam Friday 3-1. Then took the return engagement in the South Okanagan Events Centre 2-1 in overtime Saturday.

John Saunders scored the only goal of the first period as his point shot got past Hunter Miska.

Miska came up with a great save in the first period turning aside a backhand re-direction by Ryan Rosenthal who was set up by Adam Rockwood.

The Express structure all night long never really allowed the Vees to generate many quality scoring chances in the two games this weekend.

Penticton had an edge in play in the second period outshooting the Express 12-3. Goaltender Gordie Defiel was having a strong game in the Express crease for a second night in a row. Plus he had a lot of help from his team in front of him clearing pucks away from danger.

Still holding on to the 1-0 lead going into the third period, the Express knew the Vees would come with a push looking for the equalizer. Their best chance early in the period came when Travis Blanliel was set up on a feed but Defiel came to his left and got his pad down for his second best save of the night.

The Vees finally tied it when former Express AP Anthony Conti deflected a point shot past Defiel with just over 4 minutes to go.

Nothing was decided after 60 minutes and the Express had collected 3 out of a possible 4 points vs. the Vees this weekend.

The game was still looking for a hero after 65 minutes of hockey.

In the second overtime the Vees had their chances to win it.

First Cody DePourcq found himself all alone in front of Defiel with all kinds of time. The diminutive forward skated across the crease and tried to roof the puck over the sprawled out Express netminder. But Defiel stayed with him and in pure desperation made a spectacular save stacking the pads.

Seconds later the Vees fired the puck towards the net from the point, it changed directions and found a way to trickle past Defiel. But the goal was immediately waved off when it was ruled Defiel was contacted in the crease.

Those would be the Vees best chances to win the game and they wouldn't get another.

With the puck at the Express blueline they were able to poke it free giving Bo Pieper a breakaway. He busted his tail to the Vee net and unleashed a shot only Bo Pieper can with a rocket over the glove of Hunter Miska giving the Express the dramatic overtime win.

Leading up to the games this weekend vs. the Vees, the Express had spent a lot of time working on their defensive part of the game. After the results this weekend and how they earned them, it should go a long way in the development of that aspect of the Express game this season.

Next week will be a busy one for the Express with four games in 5 nights. They have a home and home with the Surrey Eagles starting Wednesday in Surrey. Then after the return match Friday in Coquitlam, the Express are off to the island for games in Port Alberni and Nanaimo.