CHIEFS WITH A 9 SPOT TO TAKE GAME 2 VS. EXPRESS

24 hours later it was a stark contrast from game 1 to game 2 between the Express and Chiefs. From a 3-2 Chiefs win in game 1, it was a 9-1 drubbing by the Chiefs in game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead. Click here for boxscore

The only thing that resembled game one was how patient the game was played. At least early on anyways.

The Express completely sat back in the neutral zone with no intention whatsoever of forechecking. And Chilliwack showed no interest at times whatsoever rushing the puck up the ice. Instead the Chiefs, just played catch with the puck below their own goal line. It was a bit of a farce to the game of hockey.

Eventually when Chilliwack rushed the puck up ice they just wanted to get the puck into the Express zone before going to work.

Once they gained entry into the Express zone they faced Tyger Howat who returned to the Express crease after missing the entire month of February with injury. It was a rude return to the lineup for the Express 20 year old goaltender.

Aaron O'Niell opened the scoring for Chilliwack beating Howat with a backhand. From there the floodgates quickly opened.

Jake Smith intercepted a rim around the boards in the Express zone and flipped the puck to the net and Smith found a loose puck and beat Howat with a backhand for a 2-0 Chiefs lead.

O'neill added his second of the net again beating Howat with a backhand to make it 3-0 Chiefs within the first 13 minutes.

Back to back Chiefs penalties gave the Express nearly four minutes of power play time to at least try and cut into the Chiefs lead, but Chilliwack killed off the back to back penalties.

Quickly upon the resumption of 5 on 5 play Vimal Sukumaran ripped a wrist shot over the shoulder of Howat for a 4-0 Chiefs lead.

With a four goal first period lead you would think that the Chiefs just came out guns ablazing. But Chilliwack just took their time to gain entry in the Express zone and broke down their coverage to set up quality scoring chances.

With so much focus on the Express trying to shutdown Jordan Kawaguchi in game 1, that story line was a complete non factor in game 2. That allowed the Chiefs depth to rise to the forefront.

Tyger Howat's return to the Express crease lasted just 20 minutes after 4 goals on 13 shots.

Lawson Fenton shut the door on the Chiefs for the first 15 minutes of the second period.

Then the goals resumed with three more Chiefs goals in the final 5 minutes of the second period by Kale Kane, Jack Smith and Dennis Cholowski to make it 7-0 through two periods.

Very little was left to decide by the time the third period rolled around. Mitch Newsome answered the question of whether Aidan Pelino would post a shutout. It wasn't meant to be on a power play goal by Newsome.

With the score being as lopsided as it was it was understandable that the Express would show their frustrations. Jackson Cressey dropped the gloves with Olivier Arseneau.

Vimal Sukumaran who was getting in the Express face all night got tangled up with Owen Stout. It all occurred right in front of the Express bench and Tyger Howat didn't like the treatment his teammate was receiving and reached off the bench to help defend his teammate. The Express goaltender was ejected with about 9 minutes remaining in the third period.

Chilliwack rounded out the scoring on goals by Jeremy Germain surprising Fenton off a face-off and Kohen Olischefski with one last power play goal.

The Chiefs outshot the Express 45-31. Their depth came shined through with 7 players scoring goals and 13 players registering at least one point.

The Express need to find a way to come up with their biggest performance of the season when game 3 arrives Monday night in Coquitlam.

FORBES OT HERO AS CHIEFS PREVAIL IN GAME 1

Ryan Forbres scored the overtime winner as the Chilliwack Chiefs took game one 3-2 of the Mainland division semi final vs. the Express. Click here for boxscore

The Chiefs lead the best of 7, 1-0.

The Express played as close to a perfect road game you could have asked for in a building the Express haven't won in their last 11 visits to Chilliwack.

They played a patient game, didn't allow Chilliwack to run the Express around in their end of the rink. Limiting the quality chances that goaltender Lawson Fenton faced.

Head Coach Barry Wolff gave Chilliwack a different look mixing up his line combinations. Alex Ambrosio took Jackson Cressey's spot centering Colton Kerfoot and Austin McILMurray.

Cressey played on the wing with Mitch Newsome and Cam Bertsch. Cressey did take the majority of the faceoffs when he was on the ice.

The Express came close to opening the scoring in the first period. Ryan Coghan blasted a shot off the post. Seconds later the Express threw the puck at the net and it bounced off the leg of Alex Ambrosio and just wide.

One of the biggest keys for the Express in this series will be how they manage Jordan Kawaguchi. He has torn the Express to shreds the last two seasons. Almost every time the Kawaguchi, Kale Kane and Jeremy Germain line was on the ice they were matched up with against the Mat Michie, Jack Surowiec and Blake Hayward line.

They were responsible for keeping Kawaguchi within an arms length and get in his face whenever possible.

It was scoreless after one period with the Express outshooting the Chiefs 14-10.

Simplicity was one of the best aspects of the Express game all night long. They just threw plenty of pucks at Chiefs goaltender Aiden Pelino whenever they could. That part of the Express game picked up in the second period. Jack Surowiec, Colton Kerfoot, had some of the Express best chances in the opening half of the second period.

At this point in time no one should be surprised who opened the scoring. The Express didn't have the the Surowiec, Michie and Hayward line on the ice, they had a chance to dump the puck in from center ice to make the change and get the matchup they wanted. Then the puck is turned over at the Chilliwack blueline and Kawaguchi is going the other way with it. He beat an Express defender off the rush then bounced the puck in off Lawson Fenton to opening the scoring. Kawaguchi had 10 goals in 6 regular season games vs. the Express this season.

The lead only last four minutes as the Express tied it on a power play goal by Luca Leone coming out the corner with the puck and sliding it between the legs of Pelino.

The Express were in the position they wanted to be in a 1-1 tie entering the third period. Special teams was shaping up to be a big difference maker for the Express in game 1. They killed off a Mat Michie roughing penalty early in the period. Then Austin McIlMurray gave the Express the lead taking a feed in the slot and scoring to put the Express up 2-1 with 12 to go set up by Jackson Cressey and Colton Kerfoot.

Then the Express penalty killers rose to the occasion shutting down a Chilliwack poweprlay with Nic Coltura in the box.

As the clock ticked down to the final minutes the Express were doing everything right to close out game 1 and come away victorious. They were getting pucks deep in the Chiefs zone, they were responsible defensively, getting in shooting lanes and blocking shots protecting the middle part of the ice.

Chilliwack made their final push in the final minute pulling Aidan Pelino and Austin Adam came off the bench as the extra skater. Adam found the puck on his stick at the line and did the smart thing throwing the puck at the net and it bounced to the stick of Jordan Kawaguchi who scored the tie the game with 57 seconds left.

It is becoming the stuff of legend the amount of massive goals that Kawaguchi has scored against the Express the last two seasons. He has 23 goals in his last 21 games against the Express. The vast majority of those goals have all been enormous.

In overtime the Express made an early push looking to end the game with chances for Alex Ambrosio and a Luca Leone defection.

Overtime only lasted four minutes. Ryan Forbes carried the puck into the Express zone, cut into the middle and fired a wrister that powered through Lawson Fenton and trickled into the net to give Chilliwack the come from behind game 1 win.

Despite the disappointing setback, the Express have to focus on the solid effort they put forth in game one. The outcome didn't go their way. But it wasn't from a lack of solid play. Another structured effort in game 2 could put the Express in a position to come home for game 3 in Coquitlam with a split.

EXPRESS 2015-16 VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

Take a look back at some of the best highlights from the Express 2015-16 regular season thanks to Jorge Parra and Underdog Productions.

The time has begun to create some new memories starting tonight. 

EXPRESS VS. CHIEFS BY THE NUMBERS

EXPRESS & CHIEFS BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL RECORDS
EXPRESS: 22-29-6-1, 51PTS, 4th in Mainland division, 14th overall	CHIEFS: 38-13-4-3, 83PTS, 1st in Mainland division, 2nd overall BCHL
HEAD TO HEAD RECORDS
EXPRESS: 0-6-0-1, 1PT	CHIEFS: 7-0-0-0, 14PTS
Sep. 11 @ CH 5-3 Chiefs Nov. 28 @ CH 6-3 Chiefs Dec. 4 @ CH 9-4 Chiefs Feb. 5 @ CQ 9-1 Chiefs Feb. 19 @ CQ 6-1 Chiefs Feb. 26 @ CQ 4-3OT Chiefs Feb. 27 @ CH 8-4 Chiefs
FINAL 10 GAMES
EXPRESS: 2-6-0-2	CHIEFS: 7-2-1-0
GOALS FOR, GOALS AGAINST
EXPRESS: 181 GF, Avg. 3.12, 239 GA, Avg. 4.12, Diff. -58	CHIEFS: 249 GF, Avg. 4.29, 155 GA, Avg. 2.67, Diff. +94
SPECIAL TEAMS
EXPRESS PP – 20.4% PK – 79.5%	CHIEFS PP - 21% PK – 84.6%
OVERTIME RECORDS
EXPRESS: 5-6-1	CHIEFS: 4-4-3
TOP SCORERS EXPRESS	TOP SCORERS CHIEFS
Colton Kerfoot – 58GP, 24G, 55A, 79PTS Jackson Cressey – 52G, 34G, 36A, 70PTS Austin McIlMurray – 57GP, 27G, 34A, 61PTS Owen Stout – 56GP, 13G, 26A, 39PTS Charlie Barrow – 58GP, 9G, 28A, 37PTS Taylor Green – 58GP, 6G, 31A, 37PTS	Jordan Kawaguchi – 56GP, 45G, 38A, 83PTS Darien Craighead – 52GP, 30G, 42A, 72PTS Vimal Sukumaran – 52GP, 32G, 34A, 66PTS Kohen Olischefski – 57GP, 13G, 35A, 48PTS Jesse Lansdell – 55GP, 15G, 29A, 44PTS Dennis Cholowski – 50GP, 12G, 28A, 40PTS
EXPRESS GOALTENDERS	CHIEFS GOALTENDERS
Tyger Howat – 25GP, 9-12-1, 3.80 GAA, .909 Sv.% Lawson Fenton – 35GP, 9-12-0, 4.07 GAA, .887 Sv.%	Aiden Pelino – 38GP, 22-11-2, 2.54 GAA, .909 Sv.%, 2SO Matteo Esposito – 30 GP, 16-6-1, 2.67 GAA, .895 Sv.%, 4SO
SCORING VS. CHIEFS	SCORING VS. EXPRESS
Colton Kerfoot – 3G, 5A, 8PTS Jackson Cressey – 3G, 3A, 6PTS Austin McIlMurray – 1G, 4A, 5PTS Charlie Barrow – 0G, 5A, 5PTS Owen Stout – 3G, 1A, 4PTS Taylor Green – 0G, 3A, 3PTS Jack Surowiec – 1G, 2A, 3PTS Cam Bertsch – 0G, 2A, 2PTS Alex Ambrosio – 1G, 1A, 2PTS	Jordan Kawaguchi – 10G, 6A, 16PTS Vimal Sukumaran – 8G, 8A, 16PTS Jeremy Germain – 1G, 11A, 12PTS Jesse Lansdell – 4G, 5A, 9PTS Kale Kane – 5G, 4A, 9PTS Kohen Olischefski – 2G, 7A, 9PTS Dennis Cholowski – 2G, 6A, 8PTS Darien Craighead – 4G, 3A, 7PTS Zach Giuttari – 4G, 3A, 7PTS Jake Smith – 3G, 2A, 5PTS
GOALTENDING VS. CHIEFS	GOALTENDING VS. EXPRESS
Lawson Fenton – 5GP, 0-3, 6.42 GAA, .796 Sv.% 27G, 133 Shots Tyger Howat – 2GP, 0-2, 7.43 GAA, .876 Sv.%	Aiden Pelino – 3-0, 2.33 GAA, .918 Sv.% Matteo Esposito – 4-0, 2.99 GAA, .868 Sv.%
HEAD TO HEAD SPECIAL TEAMS
CQ PP – 4/36 – 11.11% CH PK – 32/36 – 88.88% - 1SHG For Vimal Sukumaran Dec. 4	CH PP – 5/25 - 20% CQ PK – 20/25 - 80%

EXPRESS REGULAR SEASON AWARD WINNERS

Sunday afternoon the Express had their annual banquet at the Vancouver Golf Club to recognize the efforts, by the players, staff, sponsors and volunteers for their work during the now completed 2015-16 regular season.

As part of the festivities the Express handed out their team awards for this season.

Most popular player: JACKSON CRESSEY - 52GP, 34G, 36A, 70PTS

Photos courtesy of Damon & Garrett James

Top forward: JACKSON CRESSEY & COLTON KERFOOT

Photos courtesy of Damon & Garrett James

Photos courtesy of Damon & Garrett James

Top Defenseman: TAYLOR GREEN - 58GP, 6G, 31A, 37PTS

Photos courtesy of Damon & Garrett James

Top scorer: COLTON KERFOOT - 58GP, 24G, 55A, 79PTS

Photos courtesy of Damon & Garrett James

Rookie of the year: AUSTIN MCILMURRAY - 57GP, 27G, 34A, 61PTS

Photos courtesy of Damon & Garrett James

MVP: JACKSON CRESSEY - 52GP, 34G, 36A, 70PTS

Photos courtesy of Damon & Garrett James

Unsung hero: JACK SUROWIEC - 55GP, 7G, 10A, 17PTS & MAT MICHIE - 55GP, 4G, 9A, 13PTS, 144PIM'S *Led BCHL

Photos courtesy of Damon & Garrett James

Photos courtesy of Damon & Garrett James

Most improved player: CAM BERTSCH - 51GP, 6G, 18A, 24PTS

Photos courtesy of Damon & Garrett James

Player of the game (3 star award) - JACKSON CRESSEY - 52GP, 34G, 36A, 70PTS

Photos courtesy of Damon & Garrett James

Community Involvement: JONATHAN IRVING, CAM BERTSCH & JACKSON CRESSEY

EXPRESS REGULAR SEASON ENDS WITH A BANG

On the scoreboard the Chilliwack Chiefs finished off a 7 game season sweep of the Express with a 8-4 win in Chilliwack in the regular season finale for the Express.

But this game was so much more than just who scored more goals at the end of the night. With the Express and Chiefs meeting in the first round of the playoffs starting next Friday, it was one final opportunity for either side to set the tone for the series before it counts for real.

For the Express it was about showing that this upcoming series is going to be no push over.

They proved that and then some Saturday night in a game that rekindled memories of a time when the Express and Chiefs was one of the most heated rivalries in the BCHL.

It started in the opening minute with Taylor Green and Linden Hora cross checking each other. That would only be the first act in a long and feisty night.

Jackson Cressey opened the scoring just over two minutes in converting a set up in the goal crease form Colton Kerfoot.

Aaron O'Niell quickly pulled Chilliwack even just over a minute later.

But Mitch Newsome quickly put the Express in their second lead of the night scoring 40 seconds after O'Niell's goal.

After the goal more rough stuff ensued with all the players on the ice involved around the Chilliwack net.

This game could have been even higher scoring than it finally ended up being. Jordan Kawaguchi missed an empty net. Kale Kane was robbed by a sliding Jake Brien. For the Express Jackson Cressey had two other good chances that he couldn't convert.

Late in the first period Kawaguchi made amends for his previous miss. He took no chances on a 2 on 0 break with Kale Kane and Kawaguchi went all the way with it beating Lawson Fenton for a 2-2 tie after the first period.

The first period was just the appetizer for a wild and hairy second period.

Colton Kerfoot re-directed a Alex Ambrosio set up to give the Express a 3-2 lead.

It was after this that things really got wild.

Kale Kane and Mitch Newsome with a spirited fight with each landing their fair share of shots.

Vimal Sukumaran scored to tie the game at three. But it was after the goal where things boiled over again with more pushing and shoving during the celebration. Among the combatants were Taylor Green and Rylan Bechtel getting ejected following their fight.

Midway through the second period the Express got a scare as Aaron O'Niell collided with Lawson Fenton while cutting to the net on a rush. Fenton stayed down for a extended period of time getting attention. Initially he would stay in the game. But about three minutes later Fenton left the game and didn't return forcing AP call up Clay Stevenson to enter the game under difficult circumstances.

For the Express they couldn't risk Fenton staying in the game if he wasn't 100% and the status of Tyger Howat still unknown for game 1 of the playoffs.

The collision with Fenton only helped fuel the inferno that emerged between the two teams. For the Express they didn't back down by any means.

Cohen Olishefski scored to give Chilliwack their first lead of the net shortly after Stevenson entered the game.

Jordan Kawaguchi potted his second of the night in the opening minute of the third period for a 5-3 Chiefs lead.

Blake Hayward briefly pulled the Express back within one. Chilliwack then put the finishing touches on the season series on goals from Zach Guitari, O'Niell's second of the game and a goal by Dennis Cholowski.

This emotional game was capped off by one last fight between Jake Brien and Vimal Sukumaran in the third period.

Now that everyone got that out of their system. Let's let the playoffs begin. 

KANE PACES CHIEFS COMEBACK IN OVERTIME WIN OVER EXPRESS

Ryan Coghlan & Jackson Cressey -  Photo courtesy of Damon James

Kale Kane picked up three points in the third period and scored the overtime winner as the Chiefs defeated the Express 4-3 in overtime. Chillwack remained undefeated in six games vs. the Express this season. Click here for boxscore

AP Brady Lynn -  Photo courtesy of Damon James

It was the first meeting between the two teams since their first round playoff rematch was finalized earlier this week.

There wasn't much for either team to play for other than fine tune their game for the playoffs, avoid injury and rest players before it begins for real next Friday in Chiliwack.

For the Express, they wanted to have some positive things to build on heading into the upcoming series vs. a team that was 5-0 against the Express this season and outscored the Express 24-6 in the last three meetings.

Ryan Coghlan opened the scoring for the Express beating Mat Esposito with a deflected point shot  after Jackson Cressey won the face-off in the Chilliwack zone.

Chilliwack rested veterans Rylan Bechtel, Linden Hora and top scorer Jordan Kawaguchi.

But the reigning BCHL player of the week Darien Craighead picked up the slack. He cut to the net from the left wing and scored the tie the game just 2:11 after Coghlan's goal.

For the Express this was a key moment in the game to see if they would be able to not lose momentum and allow Chilliwack to take over the game and pull away like they had in previous outings.

The Express were able to do that Friday. Still tied at one late in the second period Jack Surowiec set up Nic Coltura who scored his third of the season from the slot giving the Express their second lead of the night.

When there's two games left in the regular season teams are stressing the little things that need to be done come playoff time. And part of that is learning to protect a lead in the third period. Or battling back when trailing.

We saw a little bit of both for the Chiefs and Express Friday night.

Mitch Newsome -  Photo courtesy of Damon James

Darien Craighead scored his second of the night on a scramble early in the third period to tie the game at 2.

Less than two minutes later an Express turnover in the neutral zone resulted in a 2 on 1 for the Chiefs and Craighead set up Kale Kane who snapped it home to give the Chiefs their first lead on the night.

For Express Head Coach Barry Wolff he's looking at his lineup to see who he can trust and play in key situations late in close games.

Tonight it meant that the line of Cressey, Kerfoot and McIlMurray saw limited ice time in the third period after the Express fell behind 3-2 and that line being on the ice for two Chiefs goals.

It meant more ice time for Mat Michie, Jack Surowiec, Cam Bertsch, Owen Stout, Mitch Newsome and Blake Hayward.

It was the latter two teaming up to equalize for the Express. Hayward did the work along the boards with the puck and set up Mitch Newsome racing into the play off the bench and he converted a pass in the slot to tie the game at three. Newsome has four goals for the Express since coming over from Salmon Arm. Three of those goals have either tied the game or given the Express the lead in the third period.

Jackson Cressey - Photo courtesy of Damon James

With the game hanging in the balance the Express got into penalty trouble but rose to the occasion killing off all three Chilliwack third period powerplays. Including one to the BCHL's most sportsmanlike player Colton Kerfoot for slashing. Both teams finished 0 for 4 on the power play.

It didn't take long for the Chiefs to prevail in overtime. Kale Kane walked off the boards in the Express zone and beat Lawson Fenton with a backhand from the slot to give the Chiefs the 4-3 overtime win 14 seconds into overtime. Kane tallied two goals and one assist in the third period and OT to pace the Chiefs comeback.

The Express will wrap up the regular season Saturday night in Chilliwack.