In the third game of four in a row head to head meetings with the Surrey Eagles, the Express got the upper hand winning their second game on home ice Friday night 4-1.
The home team got off to a good start by rolling all 4 lines, and forcing the Eagles into numerous turnovers in their own zone and generating some decent scoring chances.
The only reason the Express weren't able to open the scoring was the play of Surrey goaltender Andrew Hunt who was very sharp.
Against the flow of play the Eagles opened the scoring on the powerplay as the Morley brothers help set up Alex Hagen snapping home a feed from the slot.
The Express finally got one past Hunt late in the first period as John Siemer from deep in the Surrey zone fired a centering pass and it bounced off a defenceman and went in.
It didn't take long for the Express to take their first lead in the second period. Alex Petan forced Surrey into a turnover and showed great patience as he outwaited Hunt then slid the puck to Malcom Mckinney who buried it with ease just 42 seconds into the second.
Another turnover in the Eagles zone led to the third Express goal as Clinton Atkinson kept the puck in the Surrey zone, came down the right wing, his shot was stopped but Dante Godhino buried the rebound.
Godhino then put the game away in the third period on the powerplay as he re-directed a Zach Hodder point shot to give the Express a 4-1 lead.
The Express were in control pretty much all game long. They finished the game by outshooting the Eagles 38-25. Cole Huggins was steady in the crease finishing with 24 saves picking up his 7th win of the season.
This 4 game series between the Express and Eagles concludes Saturday night in Surrey. It will also wrap up the season series with the Eagles.
Friday, December 9, 2011
WIERCIOCH TAKES PUCK IN THE THROAT
Ottawa Senators prospect Patrick Wiercioch took a puck to the throat in tonight's game between the Senators' AHL affiliate Binghamton Senators and the Norfolk Admirals.
Wiercioch was taken to the hospital but is in stable condition and his teammates in Binghamton were told that he should be okay.
The 21-year-old defenceman will require further evaluation to see if swelling in the area occurs, and more on the extent of the injury will be known Saturday.
Wiercioch was playing the point on a Senators power play when a clearing shot struck him in the throat.
In 26 games with Binghamton this season, Wiercioch has two goals and 12 points.
He played 42 games with the Express during the 06-07 season.
Wiercioch was taken to the hospital but is in stable condition and his teammates in Binghamton were told that he should be okay.
The 21-year-old defenceman will require further evaluation to see if swelling in the area occurs, and more on the extent of the injury will be known Saturday.
Wiercioch was playing the point on a Senators power play when a clearing shot struck him in the throat.
In 26 games with Binghamton this season, Wiercioch has two goals and 12 points.
He played 42 games with the Express during the 06-07 season.
KERFOOT & STRAIGHT LISTED AS DRAFT PROSPECTS
NHL Central Scouting released its list today for players to watch for the upcoming NHL draft in Pittsburgh.
Express rookie forward Alex Kerfoot and alumni Destry Straight were among the 8 BCHL players present and past listed as "B" ranked prospects or possible middle round selections for the draft.
This is the second consecutive year that Destry Straight was listed. Last season he was ranked as a "A" prospect or a high ranking prospect. But when the draft came around he wasn't selected. This season Straight has 1 goal and 1 assist in 17 games in his first season at Boston College.
For Kerfoot, he really made a name for himself with lots of scouts in attendance while at the World Junior A Challenge in Langley. He was named to the tournament all star game with a strong finish while helping Canada West win the gold medal. This season Kerfoot has 7 goals and 27 points in 25 games with the Express.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
EAGLES @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS
Here's the highlights from the 5-2 Express win over the Surrey Eagles Saturday.
Highlights courtesy of Cary Derksen.
Highlights courtesy of Cary Derksen.
EAGLES KNOCK OFF EXPRESS, MAYBE.
It was a valiant third period come back for the Express that may or may not have come one goal short.
In the second game of 4 straight games between the Express and the Eagles, Surrey evened up the series by taking game 2 5-4 at the South Surrey Arena.
Surrey blitzed the Express in the opening minutes of the first period. They quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a pair of goals by Robert Lindores and taking a early 12-2 advantage in shots.
It could have been worse for the Express were it not for the great play of Khaleed Devji.
The Express settled things down by getting a pair of powerplays and scoring once off the stick of Brady Shaw.
Tyler and Brandon Morley showed in the first period they were going to be a factor on this night. And they each scored in the second period to give Surrey a 4-1 lead. Things may have been different for the Express, were it not for shots off the post by Brady Shaw and Taylor Bourne in the second period.
Sean McGovern added a powerplay goal in the third period beating Cole Huggins who replaced Devji following the 4th Eagle goal in the second period.
This is when things get interesting. Alex Petan and Mitch Nardi scored to pull the Express within two.
Then off a won faceoff in the Surrey zone comes some controversy. Taylor Bourne re-directed a Joona Kuunas point shot past Andrew Hunt with just over 4 minutes to go to pull the Express within one.
The goal was initially called good, but after some discussion, referee Jeff Ingram waved it off ruling the puck was contacted with a high stick. Personally I disagree with the call. It looked good from where I was standing in the booth.
The questionable call came back to hurt the Express when Zach Hodder scored in the final minute and a valiant comeback by the Express came one goal short.
The encouraging sign coming out of this game was how hard the Express battled to get back into the game. It could have been easy for them to fold the tent trailing 5-1 in the third on the road playing their third game in as many days.
Can't cry over spilled milk any more. These two teams will meet for another pair of games next weekend starting Friday in Coquitlam.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
EXPRESS TAKE GAME 1
The Express drew first blood in this mid season 4 game series with the Surrey Eagles 5-2.
A balanced attack led the way for the Express with 5 different goal scorers, and a total of 9 players hit the scoresheet. John Siemer led the way with a goal and 2 assists.
Just like Friday night in Langley, the Express gave up the games first goal on Brandon Tanev's 4th of the year following a won faceoff in the Express zone.
And like Friday, the Express had a quick reply and took the lead. John Siemer showed his slick hands as he dangled to the net and slid it home to tie the game. That was followed 1:32 later by a rocket of a slap shot by Alex Petan blowing it past Andrew Hunt. The goals for Siemer and Petan was their 3rd in the last two games.
The Express had a great opportunity the extend their lead after Linden Saip dropped the mitts with Mitch Nardi. The Express got a 5 minute major power play out of it. That was followed by a roughing penalty by Beau Orser giving the Express a 5 on 3 for a full two minutes. The Express couldn't capitalize as the BCHL's top ranked penalty killing shut down the second best power play.
Surrey pulled even midway through the second as Colton Mackie banged home a rebound that was swatted into the slot by Khaleed Devji following a shot by Alex Hagen. That was the only puck to get past Devji who was tested 19 times in the second period.
Andrew Hunt made the save of the game in the dying seconds off the middle frame as he reached back with the paddle of his stick and took a sure power play goal away from Alex Kerfoot.
John Siemer helped break the dead lock as the made a great feed from behind the net spotting Cody Michelle and he snapped it in.
Siemer then helped give the Express some insurance as he picked up his 3rd point of the game setting up Brady Shaw who finished off the odd man rush.
Justin Georgeson finished off the scoring by tallying for a second straight game into an empty net.
Khaleed Devji was solid turning aside 35 shots for his 8th win of the season.
Another key for the Express was holding Tyler Morley off the scoresheet. He had 24 points in his last 13 games vs the Express including playoffs dating back to the start of last season. Morley had already picked up 10 points in the first 3 games vs the Express.
Overall both teams provided some pretty entertaining game for the fans to watch. It was a up and down game with good pace provided by the two teams.
A balanced attack led the way for the Express with 5 different goal scorers, and a total of 9 players hit the scoresheet. John Siemer led the way with a goal and 2 assists.
Just like Friday night in Langley, the Express gave up the games first goal on Brandon Tanev's 4th of the year following a won faceoff in the Express zone.
And like Friday, the Express had a quick reply and took the lead. John Siemer showed his slick hands as he dangled to the net and slid it home to tie the game. That was followed 1:32 later by a rocket of a slap shot by Alex Petan blowing it past Andrew Hunt. The goals for Siemer and Petan was their 3rd in the last two games.
The Express had a great opportunity the extend their lead after Linden Saip dropped the mitts with Mitch Nardi. The Express got a 5 minute major power play out of it. That was followed by a roughing penalty by Beau Orser giving the Express a 5 on 3 for a full two minutes. The Express couldn't capitalize as the BCHL's top ranked penalty killing shut down the second best power play.
Surrey pulled even midway through the second as Colton Mackie banged home a rebound that was swatted into the slot by Khaleed Devji following a shot by Alex Hagen. That was the only puck to get past Devji who was tested 19 times in the second period.
Andrew Hunt made the save of the game in the dying seconds off the middle frame as he reached back with the paddle of his stick and took a sure power play goal away from Alex Kerfoot.
John Siemer helped break the dead lock as the made a great feed from behind the net spotting Cody Michelle and he snapped it in.
Siemer then helped give the Express some insurance as he picked up his 3rd point of the game setting up Brady Shaw who finished off the odd man rush.
Justin Georgeson finished off the scoring by tallying for a second straight game into an empty net.
Khaleed Devji was solid turning aside 35 shots for his 8th win of the season.
Another key for the Express was holding Tyler Morley off the scoresheet. He had 24 points in his last 13 games vs the Express including playoffs dating back to the start of last season. Morley had already picked up 10 points in the first 3 games vs the Express.
Overall both teams provided some pretty entertaining game for the fans to watch. It was a up and down game with good pace provided by the two teams.
They will do it all over again Sunday in Surrey.
Friday, December 2, 2011
EXPRESS RUN THE RIVER DRY
Photo courtesy of Vancity Sports Blog:
Alex Petan had 2 goals and an assist, John Siemer also scored a pair while Alex Kerfoot had a pair of helpers to carry the offensive attack.
Langley's red hot powerplay got them off to a quick start as Mike Tebbutt had multiple whacks at the puck and eventually poked it past Cole Huggins less than 3 minutes into the game.
Captain Alex Petan quickly responded for the Express as he showed great hand eye coordination to re-direct Alex Kerfoot's wrist shot past James Barr.
The Express got their first lead minutes later off a won faceoff by Kerfoot and John Siemer wired a shot over the glove of Barr.
Petan got his second of the night to put the Express up two on a nice backhand set up by Brady Shaw and Petan put the one timer home in the gaping net.
Tebutt pulled Langley back within one with his second power play goal of the period as his wrist shot from the slot was tipped going high in the air and fluttered over beyond the reach of Cole Huggins and in. At that point Langley's powerplay had struck 12 times in their last 27 opportunities.
Langley completed the comeback early in the second after some good work behind the Express net by Austin Plevy who set up Patrick Martens who roofed a backhand over Huggins.
Then came the turning point in favour off the Express. Justin Georgeson benefited from a broken play and the puck bounced to him and he wired a wrist shot through Barr to put the Express in the lead for good as it turned out. That goal was followed by a great shift from Petan, Bourne and Mckinney which led to an Express powerplay. That powerplay didn't result in a goal, but the Express pretty much did everything but score.
Cole Huggins then made a key save off Mario Puskarich in the final seconds of the period and the Express skated off to the room with a one goal lead.
The Express continued their strong 5 on 5 play in the third. More good work deep in the Langley zone by Bourne, Mckinney and Petan led to the 5th Express goal as Bourne scored on the rebound of a Joona Kuunas point shot.
The Express shut down Langley the rest of the night and when John Siemer scored his second of the game, that put the finishing touches on the win for the Express.
They will now get ready to play their next 4 games vs. the Surrey Eagles starting Saturday night.
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