CHIEFS SWEEP HOME AND HOME

Craig Puffer's hat-trick led the charge for the Chilliwack Chiefs who improved to 5-0 on home ice this season with a 6-3 win over the Express to extend their losing streak to 5 games Saturday night.

Chilliwack started quickly by scoring three times in the first period. Liam Ferguson got things rolling re-directing home a pass from Tanner Campbell just over three minutes into the game.

Shortly thereafter came some controversy. After the puck appeared to hit the netting in the corner in the Chilliwack end of the rink, the play resumed for about a minute, then off the rush Puffer scored his first of the night putting home a juicy rebound from the slot after a shot by Tipper Higgins.

Puffer would get his second of the night at 16:04 when he had plenty of time on a two on one to pick his spot and beat Brayden Krogfoss with a wrist shot stick side.

Corey Mackin would get one back for the Express in the final minute of the first period from the slot on the power play set up by Brett Supinski and Joey Santucci.

Saturday saw the Express penalty killing have another tough night allowing a pair of goals in the second period. The first one completed Craig Puffer's hat-trick with a backhand from the slot midway through the second period.

The line of Jackson Cressey, Colton Kerfoot and Nic Rasovic may have been the Express best line at least at 5 on 5. They had a number of decent shifts in the Chilliwack zone. They were involved in the second goal for the Express as Kerfoot set up Cressey for his second goal in as many nights.

Chilliwack's second power play goal of the game came off the stick of Jake Hand who beat Krogfoss with a wrister from the right circle top corner.

Saturday's game was the 5th time this season the Express had given up multiple power play goals and 7th time they've allowed 5 or more goals in a game.

The teams traded goals in the third period on a deflection by Kurt Black for Chilliwack and Joey Santucci scoring his second of the season on the power play for the Express.

The Express will look to snap their streak Sunday afternoon in Surrey.

TRADE NEWS:

Saturday the Express acquired twenty year old defenceman Dustin Cave from the Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL) in exchange for future considerations.

Cave gives the Express their first 20 year old on the blue line with plenty of junior A experience. He has 208 career games in the BCHL with West Kelowna, Salmon Arm, Sherwood Park and the Calgary Mustangs.

The Tappen BC native has 4 goals and 25 career assists combined in the BCHL and AJHL.

"We needed to add a veteran presence to our line up. Dustin brings a strong work ethic, leadership and will help settle down our defense core. He's a first class individual and we are excited to have him."  - Express Head Coach and General Manager Barry Wolff.

He met his teammates for the first time late Saturday in Chilliwack post game after driving all day from Sherwood park. He will make his Express debut Sunday afternoon in Surrey. 

LARSON AND PUFFER PACE CHIEFS VICTORY

The Chilliwack Chiefs picked up their 8th win in their first 10 games by scoring twice in the third period to knock off the Express 5-3 Friday night extending their losing streak to four games.

Jordan Kawaguchi got Chilliwack off on the right foot at 11:43 as he was able to find a loose puck in the crease and poke it in the discarded goal.

If there's been one bright spot on an Express season that hasn't had too many it's been their power play. It struck with just under three minutes remaining in the first period as Jackson Cressey scored his first of the season beating Mitchell Datz from the slot.

The second period started with a bang. First Colton Kerfoot scored on the rebound of a Jackson Cressey shot 59 seconds into the second period for what would turn out to be the lone Express lead of the night at 2-1. Cressey and Kerfoot each finished with a goal and an assist.

But as quickly the Express took the lead, Chilliwack took it right back. 51 seconds after Kerfoot's goal Jake Larson on a breakaway tied the game beating Pierce Dushenko with a wrist shot over the glove. Then as soon as the Express fished the puck out their net they were doing it again 8 seconds later as Craig Puffer scored also beating Dushenko with a wrist shot over the glove.

Again the Express saving grace their power play would even things up as Brett Supinski scored from the slot at 11:47 with his fourth power play goal of the season to even things up at 3. The special teams battle favored the Express Friday as they went 2 for 6 on the power play while killing off all 4 Chilliwack power plays including back to back penalties late in the second period to preserve the 3-3 tie heading to the third period.

Coquitlam had a strong push to open the third period looking to take the lead for a second time but it wasn't meant to be.

Against the flow of play somewhat Craig Puffer scored his second of the night come off the boards and beating Dushenko with a backhand from the slot for a 4-3 Chilliwack lead. Then Jake Larson scored his second of the night with just over 6 minutes remaining scoring on a deflected shot that fluttered into the net to essentially seal the game.

The effort level from the Express can't be faulted in this game. It was a fairly even contest. Chilliwack did finish with a 34-31 edge in shots.

The teams will meet again Saturday night for the second game of the weekend home and home in Chilliwack.

EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights of the 5-4 Rivermen win over the Express Friday.

Here's the highlights from Sunday's come from behind win vs. Nanaimo.



Highlights courtesy of Jorge Parra and Underdog Productions.

3RD PERIOD RALLY LEADS TO EXPRESS SECOND WIN

Third period goals by Nic Rasovic and the second and third goals of the afternoon by Brett Supinski lead a enormous rally for a 4-3 win over Nanaimo for just the second victory of the season for the Express. Click here for boxscore

There aren't many times when just the second victory of the season can be an emotional one, but that certainly can be said for the Express on this occasion.

Nanaimo entered the game riding a four game winning streak and took their first two games of their Mainland road swing with wins over Surrey and Langley. They got off on the right foot on a goal by Nicolas Carrier scoring on a deflection that slid through the legs of Brayden Krogfross.

In each of the previous two outings for the Express the opposition would get an extended 5 on 3 power play and would score on it to eventually come away victorious. Sunday it was the Express' turn for a extended 1st period 5 on 3. Brett Supinski scored his first of the game on the advantage to even the score for the Express at 17:31 of the first period.

As the Express continue their work to try and improve and turn the ship in the right direction there were positive signs throughout the course of Sunday's game. They consistently were able to establish a cycle in the offensive zone that hasn't been a element of the Express game earlier this season. That is part of the reason why the Express finished the first period with 18 shots on goal.

Jake Wozney playing in his first BCHL game gave Nanaimo a 2-1 lead in the second period banging home the rebound following a won face-off in the Express end of the rink.

San Jose Sharks draft pick Jacob Jackson gave Nanaimo a 3-1 lead when his shot beat Krogfross over the glove from the left wing.

In order for the Express to get back in the win column it was about finding ways to do the little things well incrementally over the course of the game. That included improvement in the discipline department and penalty killing. They certainly ticked that box off on Sunday.

The biggest penalty kill of the game came midway through the third period with Nic Rasovic in the box for elbowing. That capped off a a perfect 3 for 3 game for the Express while a man down. In order to have a strong night while a man down you need a big save from your goaltender. Brayden Krogfross came up with his biggest making a save on Jackson from the slot to keep the Express down just a pair. Krogfoss finished with 36 saves to pick up his second win.

Following the conclusion of the Rasovic penalty he picked up a Jivan Sidhu clearing attempt coming out of the box and scored his first of the season on the backhand.

That goal gave the Express the boost they needed for their big finish. They re-established their cycle and began to press for the equalizer. It came with just over two minutes remaining in the third period as Supinski found himself with the puck on his stick and eye to eye with Guillime Decelles and the Union committed forward scored top shelf for his second of the game.

Then in the final minute Brendan Lamont like a bull in a china shop diligently worked the puck in the Clipper zone deep and eventually got the puck to the net leading to a scramble and Supinski capped off his first BCHL hat-trick to give the Express their lone lead of the night with just 32 seconds to play.

The Express battled hard for the full 60 minutes and were rewarded for their effort. They finished with a season high 43 shots on goal.

Next weekend the Express will hit the road for it's first real road trip of the season with visits on the way to Alberni Valley, Cowichan Valley and Powell River.

BRAD APARTMENT "HUNTING" IN OIL COUNTRY

Former Express (06-08) captain Brad Hunt has done nothing but impress the Edmonton Oiler brass during training camp. So much so Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins has had a really tough time to keep his very high praise a little subdued and subtle.

Sunday after the Oilers final cuts following their game Saturday night in Vancouver Hunt learned he will be starting the season in Edmonton.

His ability to work the power play has been one of the main areas that has caught the attention of Dallas Eakins.

Hunt made his NHL debut last season playing three games last season in Edmonton in January. He spent the majority of the season last year with the Oilers AHL affiliate in Oklahoma City where he had a fantastic season. He was 5th among AHL defenceman with 50 points while finding the back of the net 11 times. He was recognized at the end of the season by being named a second team all star.

Edmonton will open their season Thursday at home to Calgary.

Here's his post game comments Saturday in Vancouver courtesy of Oilers TV.




Here's Oilers Coach Dallas Eakins pre-game thoughts Saturday with a very in-depth breakdown of Hunt's play to date starting at the 1:46 mark of the video.

MACKIN'S HAT-TRICK NOT ENOUGH AS EXPRESS FALL TO RIVERMEN

Corey Mackin's first BCHL hat-trick wasn't enough for the Express as they fell 5-4 to the Langley Rivermen Friday night. Click here for box score

The Express remain with just one win of the season with a record of 1-4-0-1 through the first six games of the season.

As the team tries to improve as the season goes along the lessons learned along the way are pretty tough.

Things started well for Mackin and the Express with Mackin scoring his first of the night after he picked off a pass in the neutral zone and scored on his own rebound beating Bo Didur.

Three minutes later however Langley pulled even on William Campion's point shot that changed directions and find it's way past Pierce Dushenko.

It was another strong night for the Express powerplay striking twice on eight advantages. The first goal coming off the stick of Corey Mackin who snapped home Joey Santucci's cross ice feed for his second of the night.

But for as good as the powerplay has been for the Express, the penalty killing has been as equally if not even more not good enough.

For the second straight game the opposition got an extended 5 on 3 advantage, and for the second straight game the Express would find themselves fishing the puck out of their net as the game turns in favour of the opposition.

Gage Torrell and Matthew Graham scored 36 seconds apart to give Langley a 3-2 lead going to the second period.

The Express have now given up a BCHL high 12 powerplay goals on 32 shorthanded situations and their penalty killing sits dead last at 62.5%. They've given up at least one powerplay goal in each of their five losses and multiple powerplay goals in four of the six lossses to start the season.

Corey Mackin completed his first BCHL hat-trick 13 minutes into the second period snapping home a wrist shot from the slot that was tipped past Didur.

Newcomer Jivan Sidhu acquired earlier in the day from the Nipawin Hawks of the SJHL made his Express debut for the Express Friday. He was on the wrong end of a turnover of the puck coming out of his own zone that allowed Kevan Killistoff to score at 3:46 to give Langley a 4-3 lead.

41 seconds later Langley struck again as Gage Torrel scored his second of the night re-directing Jacob Zeleznikar's point shot past Pierce Dushenko. Langley finished the night with 42 shots. It was the third time this season an Express netminder had faced 40 plus shots.

Cameron Bertsch gave the Express hope when he converted as pass from Nic Rasovic for his first BCHL regular season goal with 7:18 to play.

That led to some momentum and some of the best scoring chances for the Express on the night. More specifically Brett Supinski. His first best chance when he put his own rebound off the post with Didur beat. Then his second came on a late Express powerplay with Supinski set up in front but Didur fired up his glove for his best of 28 saves on the night.

The Express will get their next crack at their second win of the season Sunday afternoon vs. Nanaimo.

WARRIORS @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Here's the highlights from Tuesday's game vs. West Kelowna.



Highlights courtesy of Jorge Parra and Underdog Productions. Click here to see previous Express youtube highlights