EXPRESS SHOWCASE HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday's 4-1 loss in Chilliwack.



Saturday's 7-1 win over Salmon Arm in Penticton.



Highlights produced by Eddie Gregory.

SILVERBACKS @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights from Salmon Arm's 5-2 win over the Express Wednesday.

Highlights produced by Eddie Gregory.

EXPRESS CAN'T RECOVER FROM QUICK START FROM SILVERBACKS

Troy Robillard - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Salmon Arm struck three times in the first 12 minutes of the game and never looked back en route to a 5-2 win over the Express. Click here for boxscore


The key deciding moment of this game came just 1:55 into the contest. Lucas Wong hit Salmon Arm's Max Wutzke from behind sending the defenseman crashing into the boards spreading his legs on contact. Wutzke was shaken up on the play and didn't return.

Right upon the start of the power play the Silverbacks started generating quality chances.

They capitalized on the powerplay just 22 seconds into it on a goal from Tanner Campbell who found a loose puck at the side of the Express net.

Justin Wilson scored Salmon Arm's second power play goal on the Wong major penalty taking a cross ice feed and snapping a shot past the stick of Brock Hamm for a 2-0 Silverbacks lead.

By this point the Silverbacks had opened up a 10-0 advantage in shots.

The Express didn't register their first shot until the 8 mark of the first period against former teammate Reid Cooper. The Silverbacks goaltender faced his former mates for the first time since he was traded by the Express to Salmon Arm in November in exchange for future considerations. Since that trade Cooper has secured himself a commitment to Robert Morris University.

Haydn Delorme - Photo courtesy of Damon James

The early 2-0 lead gave Salmon Arm a boost that allowed them to play a quick game when the play returned to 5 on 5.

Grayson Constable wired a slap shot from the right wing for a 3-0 Silverbacks lead at 12:43.

The fortunes for the Express didn't change much in the second period. Riley Hayles beat Brock Hamm with a slap shot that pinged in off the goal post for a 4-0 lead at 7:03. That goal chased Brock Hamm after 4 goals on 19 shots.

Clay Stevenson was welcomed to the game by the first shot he faced finding the back of the net. Hudson Schandor snapped a shot from the boards for his 9th of the season.

The Express needed a Miracle on Manchester type comeback entering the 3rd period. The Express were only able to complete 40% of the comeback.

They got a pair of power play goals to cut the lead down to 5-2. Jordan Schulting buried a rebound for his 7th of the season at 7:44. Then Eric Linell rounded out the scoring re-directing a Troy Robillard point shot for his 28th of the season at 12:00.

The Express finished with 28 shots sent towards their former teammate Reid Cooper who posted his 7th win in 13 games with the Silverbacks.

This weekend the Express visit Prince George for a pair of games Friday and Saturday. 

SILVERBACKS 5 EXPRESS 3

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks broke a brief 3-3 third period tie en route to a 5-3 win over their Express expansion cousins. Click here for boxscore

The setback keeps the Express in search of their first win of the season through six games. (0-5-1-0)

Clay Stevenson got the call for the Express between the pipes. He was tested early on as the Silverbacks opened the game with a 5-0 advantage in shots. The line of Mason Mitchell, Justin Wilson and Grayson Constable used their size and speed were giving the Express trouble keeping up with them in their zone. Eventually Constable found the puck in the slot and he scored to open the scoring at 4:05.

The Express were seeking their power play to find some production following their 4-2 loss at the showcase to Victoria.

It came through on Friday. Sam Kozlowski potted his third of the season on the power play with a Jordan Schulting pass hitting a skate and coming right to Kozlowski who blasted it home to tie the game at one.

Salmon Arm restored their lead late in the first period when Noah Wakeford found a loose puck in the Express crease and swatted it home for his first BCHL goal.

Clay Stevenson's best work came in the second period. He stopped Rhett Kingston on a breakaway.

The only puck to beat Stevenson in the period was due to an unfortunate break. Trevor Adams from the blueline fired a wrist shot that Express defenseman Doug Scott tried to block with his glove. He only got a piece of it and the puck slipped past Stevenson's left as he was sliding to his right.

Then Stevenson rose to the occasion to keep his team in the game when the Express got themselves into penalty trouble giving the Silverbacks a two man advantage for 1:26. Kingston had a chance for redemption when he was set up for a one timer, but he was robbed by Stevenson who made his best save of the night with his left pad.

Alex Ambrosio was guilty of the second penalty putting the Express down two men. The captain redeemed himself with the Express on a power play blasting home a one timer from the right circle to cut the Silverbacks lead to 3-2.

Jack Graham, Riley Johnson and Christian Rosa saw limited ice time for the Express. Early in the third they teamed up to pull the Express even. Johnson found Rosa alone at the edge of the crease for Bosa's second of the season to tie the game at 3.

The tie only lasted two minutes, Logan Mostat scored a power play goal to give Salmon Arm a 4-3 lead. The Express argued the puck was contacted with a high stick after Austin Chorney's point shot went air bourne. A brief discussion by the referees allowed the goal to stand. Despite the setback, Stevenson had a strong outing in the Express crease with a heavy barrage of shots to keep his team within striking distance.

Nice Tallarico faced 21 shots in the Silverbacks crease. His best save in the third period came off Christian Sanda on a two on one as the Express looked for the equalizer.

Rhett Kingston sealed the game for the Silverbacks with an empty net goal in the final minute.

Salmon Arm outshot the Express 46-21.

The Express finally play their home opener Saturday night vs. the Prince George Spruce Kings. 

SILVERBACKS VICTORIOUS ON COMETS NIGHT

Lawson Fenton faced 38 shots - Photo courtesy of Damon James

For a second time the Express honored the history of junior hockey in Coquitlam with a Coquitlam Comets night.

The visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks didn't play along by defeating the Comets 6-2. Click here for boxscore

The Express wore their vintage red Comets jerseys to pay tribute to the junior team that played in Coquitlam from the late 60's to the early 80's. Original owner Sandy Michie was in attendance on his 84th birthday.





Salmon Arm started fast right from the opening face-off, and getting plenty of pucks sent towards Comets goaltender Lawson Fenton.

Kodi Schwarz opened the scoring beating Fenton with a screen shot from the right point just over two minutes into the game.

Two minutes later Mitch Skapski scored for a 2-0 Silverbacks lead.

Colton Kerfoot scored in second period - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Salmon Arm kept the pedal to the floor peppering Lawson Fenton. Marcus Mitchell scored his first of the night on a one timer midway through the first period.

At one point the Silverbacks had a 16-2 advantage in shots. And it was looking like it might be a repeat performance of the first meeting between the two teams in September when Salmon Arm fired 62 shots in a 6-0 Silverbacks win.

The Comets did their best to try and battle back in the game, but when you're missing six regulars it makes it difficult.

Owen Stout got the Comets on the board beating Angus Redmond up high with a quick shot from the boards.

Then late in the first the Comets had a chance to cut into the Silverbacks lead even more with a two man advantage for nearly two minutes. The Comets peppered Angus Redmond with shots but it was a 3-1 Silverbacks lead after the first period. The first period struggles on the power play would be a sign of things to come for the Comets.

In the second period the Comets began to turn the game in their favour. They were getting more pucks on the net. But they had to face a new goaltender in Brandon Kegler who came out to start the second period.

Colton Kerfoot pulled the Comets within one taking a pass out from behind the net and blasting it past Kegler.

Taylor Green - Photo courtesy of Damon James

The Comets had numerous chances to pull even with three second period powerplays but Salmon Arm shut them down at every turn. Coquitlam finished zero for five on the power play.

Seven minutes into the third Marcus Mitchell added his second of the night taking pass down low and beating Fenton with a sharp angle shot. Just over two minutes later Salmon Arm had re-stored their three goal lead on a goal by Taro Hirose who was set up at the side of the Comets net.

Zach Erhardt rounded out the scoring in the final minute with his first BCHL goal in his first game on the power play.

Following the 16-2 start in shots for Salmon Arm, the Comets battled back the rest of the way outshooting Salmon Arm the rest of the way 36-22 to finish the night even with Salmon Arm at 38 apiece.

The loss for the Comets was their 7th in their last 8 games. They continue their 5 game home stand Sunday afternoon vs. Prince George.

CHRIS SPEC 'TAI' CULAR IN EXPRESS WIN

The Coquitlam Express extended their winning streak to three games thanks to a fantastic performance by Chris Tai and a pair of goals from both Corey Mackin and Joey Santucci in a 5-4 win over Salmon Arm. Click here for box score

Tai made 41 saves in the Express crease including 21 in the second period alone to post his third win with the Express. Things didn't start well for Tai and his teammates however.

Salmon Arm jumped on the Express in the opening 10 minutes and were rewarded for it. Karl El-Mir and Josh Blanchard scored 1:02 apart to open up a 2-0 Silverbacks lead midway through the first period. At one point the shots were 9-1 in favor of Salmon Arm.

Brendan Lamont got one back for the Express late in the opening frame after he buried the rebound of a Corey Mackin shot at 16:10 of the first period.

Joey Santucci evened things up for the Express with a power play goal for his fourth of the season with a slap shot that got past the glove of Zach Dyment.

Then the BCHL's goal scoring leader went to work. Corey Mackin scored his first of two on the night on a shorthanded breakaway to give the Express their first lead. It was also the first shorthanded goal for the Express this season.

Mackin then added a goal that will be shown on highlights everywhere. He took the puck in the neutral zone and with time to process what he was going to do, he went to his patented spin-a-rama move from the right wing cutting to the net and roofing a water bottle popping backhand past Dyment for a 4-2 Express lead.



Mackin now leads the BCHL with 18 goals. He also had an assist for a three point night.

Late in the second period came a key sequence in determining the outcome tonight.

The Express ran into penalty trouble with Cody Boyd heading off for unsportsmanlike conduct, Brendan Lamont being sent off for a minor for high sticking which was quickly followed by a double minor high sticking penalty to captain Joey Santucci.

The result was an extended 5 on 3 advantage and a double minor Salmon Arm powerplay that carried over into the third period.

But this is when Chris Tai cemented his first star honors in this game. He was spectacular in the second period. Most notably on the Silverback power play which helped preserve the two goal lead through 40 minutes.

Then in the third the Express were able to kill off the remaining 2:44 of the Santucci penalty to open the frame and hold on to their two goal lead.

This game was destined to have drama going right to the end. Logan Mick cut the Express lead to 4-3 midway through the third period.

Joey Santucci then added his second of the game less than two minutes later when his shot handcuffed Angus Redmond who swatted the rebound of the shot out of the air with his stick and just across the goal line before the net was knocked off. Referee Brett Iverson deserves credit for being in good position to make the call.

Salmon Arm again made it a one goal game as Ross Hedit scored deflecting Phill Middleton's point shot making the finish a nerve racking one.

Santucci is credited with the game winning goal tonight. But he also had to sit and watch his teammates cap off a great night on the penalty kill when he was called for goaltender interference with just under three minutes remaining.

The Express held off Salmon Arm's final push to preserve the victory tonight. The Silverbacks did go 1 for 8 on the power play. But the Express penalty killers deserves plenty of kudos for their efforts to kill off the final 7 Silverback man advantages Wednesday night.

Coquitlam will take their three game win streak and look to build on it with a home and home with Surrey starting Friday night in Coquitlam.