EXPRESS WIN 40TH GAME AS CLAY STEVENSON SETS EXPRESS FRANCHISE SHUTOUT RECORD

Graphic by Jacob Lazare.

Clay Stevenson made 29 saves for his 4th shutout of the season and his 6th in his regular season career as the Express blanked Langley 5-0. Click here for boxscore

For Stevenson, his 6th career regular season shutout passes Cole Huggins for the most all time in Express history. His 4th shutout this season ties Matthew Gordon for most in a single season. It was also his 29th win of the season which tied Kevin Jebson for most wins in a season by a goaltender in Express history.

Langley came out hitting trying to set an early tone. Most notably Massimo Rizzo was on the receiving end of a double team hit in the neutral zone. But it would be long until Langley wasn't able to keep up with the Carolina Hurricanes pick.

Joey Berkopec opened the scoring for the Express just past the 5 minute mark snapping a shot over the glove of Braedon Fleming. For Berkopec it was his first goal in an Express uniform since being acquired from Merritt.

Massimo Rizzo had been very dangerous in the last few games for the Express. But he wasn't getting the pay off by finding the back of the net with the hard work he was putting in to generate chances.

Tonight he broke through. Just past the 11 minute mark he converted a Greg Lapointe pass tipping home his first of the night. The goal chased Fleming after just two goals on four shots.

Greg Lapointe and Danny Pearson both returned to the lineup after missing time with injuries. Lapointe's impact was immediate as he had a number of good chances in the first period.

Jonathan Mor came in the Langley net following the 2-0 goal. Late in the period he had no chance handing a wicked Rizzo wrist shot for a 3-0 Express lead after one.

Danny Pearson had his share of chances during the night in his return to the lineup. He picked up an assist in his return with a shot that wound up in the feet of Mor and was tucked home in the goal crease by Brad Ong. It was the third goal in the last two games for Ong.

Stevenson only had to make 6 saves in the second period. But he got some help in the period to keep Langley off the board when a loose puck in the crease that Stevenson couldn't find right away was cleared just as Stevenson found the puck and was in the process of covering it.

In the third, not only did Stevenson had to fight off Langley shooters. He had to endure a few collisions in the crease. The second one he had Sean Bunting hit on top of the Express goaltender as Noah De La Durantaye hustled back to get into the play and levelled the Langley forward.

The contact didn't deter the Express goaltender in his pursuit of his 4th shutout of the season.

Rizzo meanwhile had his share of chances in the second period to get his 3rd of the night. Then when he was not trying to finish off the hat-trick he was able to cap it off. On a two on one with Nick Carabin, Rizzo's pass for the Express defenceman ended up going in off a Langley defenceman for Rizzo's second hat-trick of the season.

Friday's game was loaded with penalties. The Express were 0 for 9 on the powerplay. But they were a perfect 8 for 8 on the penalty kill. Friday's effort will move the Express back into the top spot in the overall BCHL penalty killing rankings.

Saturday will see the Express hit the road for their lone visit of the season to Wenatchee. 

WARRIORS AT EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights of the Express 4-0 win over West Kelowna Friday night.



Highlights produced by Eddie Gregory.

EXPRESS POWER PAST EAGLES

The Express had a season high of 5 power play goals en route to a 6-0 win over the Surrey Eagles. Click here for boxscore

Brock Hamm made 41 saves to post his first shutout in an Express uniform.

It was the fourth meeting between the teams in just under three weeks. The last time the teams met the Express fell by a 4-1 score in Surrey nearly two weeks ago.

In that meeting the Eagles got off to a quick start, and the Express never really clawed their way back in it.

Wednesday it was a much better start for the Express. The power play got things going 5 minutes into the game on a wrist shot by Jonathan Sheardown for his first BCHL goal to open the scoring. Sheardown's shot completely destroyed the water bottle of Eagles goaltender Daniel Davidson. Sheardown's goal was the first time in 6 games the Express scored first.

Surrey looked for the equalizer and quickly learned that Express goaltender Brock Hamm was dialed in. His best save in the first period came off a one timer by Ryan Brushett in the slot.

Josh Wildauer tallied the second power play goal for the Express finding a loose puck in the crease and poking it home for a 2-0 Express lead. Jonathan Sheardown picked up his second point of the night with an assist on the goal. Jack Lippis had helpers on both first period power play goals.

The Eagles got the first two powerplays of the second period which would have helped their cause to get back into the game. But they struggled to generate much due to the strong play of the Express penalty killers. Jack MacNab at times did good work using his size and strength to protect the puck and kill time off the Surrey powerplays.

Then the power play continued to pile up the goals for the Express. Jordan Schulting's shot from left point was knocked down in front of the net and with both Josh Wildauer and Will Lawerence in front of the net it was the former who swiped it home for his second of the game and a 3-0 Express lead.

In the third period Surrey was trying hardest to jam pucks to the net to find a way to get a puck past Brock Hamm, but he wasn't going to be beat on Thursday. Surrey's dynamic duo of Johnny Wesley and Ty Westgard were kept in check all throughout the contest.

Then the Express pulled away from their opponent. Landon Fuller kept the puck in the Surrey zone and gave the puck to Jack MacNab who cut to the net and roofed a shot past Davidson.

Finally the power play put the finishing touches on the lopsided win. Will Lawerence converted a set up at the lip of the Eagles crease to make it 5-0. Then in the final minute Christian Sanda buried a rebound for the 5th power play goal for the Express.

December 16th, 2011 was the last time the Express scored 5 power play goals in a game. That night the Express defeated the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 8-2. Thursday's performance is still no where close to the franchise record for power play goals in a game which is 8 which was achieved on September 16, 2006 at Langley.

Jordan Schulting finished with 4 assists, that comes one day after committing to UMass Lowell. Josh Wildauder had two goals and an assist and Will Lawerence had one goal and two assists.

The Express will continue their road trip Friday night in Wenatchee. Then head to Trail Saturday night. 

EAGLES BLANK EXPRESS

Reid Cooper - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Daniel Davidson made 22 saves for his first career BCHL shutout and Nick Fea scored a pair of goals as the Eagles blanked the Express 4-0. Click here for boxscore

It was the second straight game the Express have been held off the scoresheet.

Luca Leone came as close as anyone for the Express to find the back of the net Thursday night by ringing a shot off the post on a first period power play.

Reid Cooper had a busy night facing 37 Surrey shots. Some of his best saves came in the first period. Most notably coming to his left and kicking out his left pad to rob Tyler Cooper off the rush.

Fea broke through for his first of the night taking a lead pass and splitting the Express defense then deking past Cooper to open the scoring a minute into the second period.

Surrey thought they added to their lead when Paul McAvoy buried the rebound off a Darius Davidson shot off the end boards and snapping it to the net as Reid Cooper recovered to get back in position.

Callum Cusinatio - Photo courtesy of Damon James

The red light was turned on and the Eagles celebrated as they had scored but neither referee called goal. Upon discussion it was deemed the puck entered the net after the net was knocked off it's supports.

But just over a minute later Surrey did add to their lead on Fea's second of the night snapping a one timer from the left circle following a won face-off in the Express zone. Logan Mostat and Desi Burgart each assisted on both of Fea's second period goals.

Jeffery Stewart put the Eagles up three in the third cutting in from the right wing and sliding shot under the pad of Cooper. That was followed up by Andrew Kemp having the rebound of a Jacob Dupont shot bounce off him and in to round out the scoring.

Neither team was able to convert on the powreplay with the Express going 0 for 5 while Surrey went 0 for 2.

The Express return home to continue their three game in three night weekend Friday vs. Powell River.