CHIEFS DOUBLE UP ON EXPRESS

Josh Bruce - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Chilliwack scored four unanswered goals en route to a 4-2 win over the Express Friday night in Coquitlam. Click here for boxscore

In the process the Express had their two game winning streak come to an end.

It was second meeting in a week between the two teams. The Chiefs were victorious by a 2-1 score in Chilliwack last Friday.

Both teams came out skating in the first period. But neither team was able to generate many shots.

Josh Wildauer opened the scoring for the Express moments after a early 2nd period power play expired.

Troy Robillard fired a wrist shot from the right point that was deflected by Wildauer in the slot for his 5th of the season at 5:42.

52 seconds later the Chiefs pulled even. Ryan Miotto snapped a shot from the slot under the arm of Clay Stevenson to even the score at one.

That goal tilted the game in Chilliwack's favour. They did a decent job working the puck along the boards in the Express zone and trying to control the play.

Christian Sanda - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Chilliwack captain Will Calverley returned to the Chiefs lineup after missing the previous three games with an injury. He gave the Chiefs the lead on the power play swiping home a loose puck that bounced his way off a Marcus Tesink point shot.

Regan Kimens scored Chilliwack's third goal of the period late in the frame firing a shot past the glove of Clay Stevenson after the Express failed to get the puck out of their zone for a 3-1 Chiefs lead after 2 periods.

Midway through the third period Ryan Miotto essentially sealed the win for Chilliwack by putting the puck into an empty net after Clay Stevenson coughed up the puck to Will Caverley who set up Miotto who scored his second of the night.

Doug Scott rounded out the scoring for the Express jamming home a loose puck in the crease in the final minute after a good play by Johnathan Sheardown on a wrap around. AP Dominic Davis who dressed in his 4th game with the Express picked up his first BCHL point with an assist on the play.

The Express outshot Chilliwack 28-24. But unlike last Friday in Chilliwack,

the Express weren't able to generate as many quality chances on this night.

The power play finished 0 for 6 for the Express. Most of the night with the man advantage they had trouble setting up in the offensive zone. That was due in part to Chilliwack penalty killing pressure all over the ice. On the other side the Chiefs were 1 for 4 on the man advantage.

Saturday night the Express will visit the Langley Rivermen. 

EXPRESS @ VIPERS HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights from Wednesday's 3-2 OT win for the Express in Vernon.

LINELL OT HERO AS EXPRESS DROP BCHL'S TOP TEAM IN OT

Eric Linell took the first step to repeat as BCHL player of the week scoring the overtime winner as the Express defeated the BCHL's top team the Vernon Vipers 3-2 in overtime. Click here for boxscore

The win was the first road win for the Express in their 17th away game, and they posted consecutive victories for the first time this season. They're now 2-1-1 under Head Coach Jason Fortier.

The visitors looked a little sloppy in the opening minutes of the game. Then they settled into the game starting to generate their own chances.

Sam Kozlowski opened the scoring for the firing a wrist shot that deflected off the stick of a Vipers defenseman and past Anthony Yamnitski. That goal would be the first of a constant theme of the night of some slightly unconventional goals for both teams.

Injuries to the Express have seen them dress a few AP's in recent games. Nick Amsler dressed for his second straight game. Brayden Szabados meanwhile made his BCHL debut. They mostly played on a line with Jonathan Sheardown. When they were out there they gave the Express some valuable minutes.

Kozlowski struck again for the Express late in the second period. Again he caught a break. After taking a pass from John Sheardown, Kozlowski's shot from the slot bounced in off the stick of Vipers goaltender Yamnitski.

The lead for the Express held into the third period where things really got wild.

For the first 13 minutes of the period the Express were doing everything right to protect their lead. Then at 12:50 Vernon's Keyvan Mokhtari was called for cross checking. It was a great opportunity for the Express to put the game away.

Off the ensuing offensive zone draw the puck split the Express defense. That allowed Jesse Lansdell to pounce on the puck for a breakaway. He was given a slight hook then was awarded a penalty shot.

On the penalty shot Lansdell slid a backhand through the pads of Brock Hamm to get Vernon on the board with 7 minutes to go.

At the time the Express still had 1:50 of power play time remaining to at least re-store their two goal lead.

The Lansdell goal rattled the Express who never really set up on the power play. Then the puck was fired into the Express zone and Hamm was forced to race out of his net to clear the puck away from the oncoming Lansdell. The Vernon forward knocked down the clearing attempt and scored his second shorthanded goal of the night 1:20 after his penalty shot goal to tie the game at 2.

That goal capped off a period for Lansdell that saw him get shaken up earlier in the period on a pair of shot blocks.

At this time for an Express team that is still learning how to close out wins, let alone do it on the road against the league's top team this was their test.

In the final minute of the third period Josh Bruce was called for a check to the head penalty and was essentially done for the night with the minor penalty plus the automatic 10 minute misconduct.

The Express survived the final 15 seconds of regulation shorthanded. And the overtime intermission was a great time for the team to reset after blowing a two goal lead in dramatic fashion.

With 1:45 of power play time to open overtime at 4 on 3, the Vipers had no reason to rush to set up the perfect play to get the winner.

Vernon's patience may have actually played into the hands of the Express. Vernon worked the puck around, looking for the perfect chance and eventually the Express killed off the penalty.

Throughout the night Eric Linell just seemed to have the puck find his stick to create chances. They weren't going in for him in regulation. The puck found Linell's stick again in overtime. This time the BCHL's player of the week got a bounce only red hot players get as his shot went off the stick of a Vipers defenseman and past Yamnitsky giving the Express the 3-2 OT win.

For Linell it was his 7th goal in his last 5 games.

Brock Hamm turned aside 30 of the 32 shots sent his way to post his second consecutive win in the Express crease.

The Express return to action on Friday when they host the Chilliwack Chiefs. Then they will travel to Langley on Saturday night. 

LINELL POW, AMBROSIO HON. MENTION

Photo courtesy of Garrett James

After five consecutive goals in three games, Express forward Eric Linell was named the BCHL's player of the week. His linemate Alex Ambrosio was named an honorable mention after potting 1 goal and 5 assists.

See the full press release from the BCHL below: 

Coquitlam Express forward Eric Linell has been named the BCHL Player of the Week for the week ending Dec. 3, the league announced Monday.

Linell scored five time as the Express earned a win and a tie in three outings. The native of Great Neck, N.Y. opened the week with a two-goal outing in a 3-3 draw against the Langley Rivermen where he was 1st Star. He scored again the Express’ only goal the next game against Chilliwack and finished his week with another two-tally performance and a 2nd Star nod in a 6-2 triumph over the visiting Victoria Grizzlies.

With 15 goals and 25 points now on the season, Linell leads the club in both categories.

Honourable Mentions this week:

Nanaimo Clippers F Jake Harris: 3G, 4A, 1st Star, 2nd Star

Coquitlam Express F Alex Ambrosio: 1G, 5A, 1st Star, 3rd Star

Penticton Vees G Adam Scheel: 2W, SO, 55 saves/56 shots, .982 sv%, 0.50 GAA, 1st Star

Merritt Centennials F Zach Zorn: 3G, 1A, GWG, 1st Star, 2nd Star

Surrey Eagles F John Wesley: 3G, 2A, 1st Star, 2nd Star

Chilliwack Chiefs F PJ Marrocco: 2G, 1A, two 1st Stars

GRIZZLIES @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights from the Express 6-2 win over Victoria Sunday. 

EXPRESS SNAP STREAK VS. GRIZZLIES

Jason Fortier has his first win as the Head Coach of the Coquitlam Express. It came in his third game behind the bench by a 6-2 score over the Victoria Grizzlies Sunday. Click here for boxscore

The win for the Express snapped their 15 game winless streak (0-14-1-0).

The Express were facing a road weary Victoria team that had played in Prince George and Vernon the previous two nights.

Early on it didn't look like Victoria was playing their third game of the weekend. They appeared to have opened the scoring off a won face-off in the Express zone in the opening minute. But upon further review by the officials it was deemed the deflection of the shot was contacted with a high stick.

Victoria didn't allow the no goal call to dissuade them. T.J. Friedman opened the scoring just shy of the 4 minute mark.

The red hot Eric Linell evened things up for the Express in the final minute of the first period scoring from the slot on a set up from captain Alex Ambrosio. The goal set off a frenzy of stuffed animals on the annual teddy bear toss night for the Express.

Justin Michealian tipped a pass home at the lip of the goal crease at 3:12 of the second period giving the Grizzlies their second lead of the night. That would be the final puck to get past goaltender Brock Hamm who shut the door the rest of the way to finish with 35 saves to post his first victory in the Express crease.

Just over two minutes after the Grizzlies goal, Linell struck again converting a set up in the blue paint from Jordan Schulting to tie the game at 2. The goal for Linell was his 15th of the season. By that point he had scored the last 5 Express goals dating back to Wednesday vs. Langley.

Christian Sanda, who appears to be a little rejuvenated lately gave the Express their first lead banging home a rebound to give the Express a 3-2 lead they would carry into the third period.

Jordan Schulting gave the Express some insurance early in the third jumping into the play and found a loose puck in the Victoria crease for his third of the season.

Sunday was a career day for Express captain Alex Ambrosio. He had a four point game with one goal and three assists. He capped off his memorable afternoon with a strong defensive play then rushing the puck up the ice and outwaited Victoria goaltender Bryce Schiebel and slid the puck home for a 5-2 Express lead.

Colby Pederson rounded out the scoring for the Express hitting the empty net with 1;53 to play. The 6 Express goals was a new single game high.

They're now 1-1-1-0 for three points since the coaching change. In that time they've only allowed 7 goals for an average of less than 3 per night in the short period of time.

The Express will seek their first road win of the season Wednesday when they travel to Vernon. 

CHIEFS USE THIRD PERIOD RALLY TO EDGE EXPRESS

Chilliwack scored twice in the third period for a come from behind 2-1 win over the Express Friday in Chilliwack. Click here for boxscore

The Express come away from Friday's game looking back on the number of chances they couldn't bury.

The chances for the Express started to come in the first period. Josh Bruce had a chance in the opening minutes. Then Sam Kozlowski had a pass go behind him on a 2 on 1 break.

It was a penalty filled game with the teams combining for 15 total powerplays.

Chilliwack had four advantages alone in the first period. That included a two man advantage for 1:22 after Johnathan Sheardown was called for a check from behind for a hit on Anthony Vincent. Sheardown was also given a game misconduct.

The Express limited the dangerous chances on the two man disadvantage as the Chiefs were patient moving the puck around. Things got more frantic in when the play went to 5 on 4 for the Chiefs. Chilliwack's best chance was Corey Andonovski ringing a shot off the post. Then Clay Stevenson stopping Kaden Pickering who tried to jam the puck in from the goal crease.

Chilliwack was penalized for back to back penalties in the first, but the Express couldn't strike.

The best chance for the Express came late in the period as Jordan Schulting got the puck at centre ice coming out of the penalty box and had a breakaway, but his shot hit the cross bar and went out of play.

In the second period Eric Linell was stopped on a breakaway by Mathieu Caron.

At the other end Clay Stevenson got some puck luck as Jake Gresh had his point shot hit the post and stay out. It was the same story moments later for Jared Turcotte.

Midway through the period Stevenson made the save of the night coming across to his left to rob Anthony Vincent who then crashed into the Express goaltender following the save.

Finally 17 minutes into the second period the deadlock was broken. Off a won face-off in the Chilliwack zone Haydn Delorme fired it back to Landon Fuller whose point shot was tipped by Eric Linell to open the scoring. For Linell it was his third goal in the last two games.

Chilliwack entered the third period with a power play with Fuller in the box for interference. That was followed early in the third by a interference penalty from Josh Wildauer.

Sensing the urgency of the situation with the Chiefs getting their second two man advantage of the game this time for 40 seconds Jason Tatarnic called his time out.

It only took the Chiefs 8 seconds to execute their plan and tie the game. Off the won face-off the Chiefs worked it down to the goal line to Tommy Lee who zipped a back door pass to Corey Andonovski who tied the game at 1. Chilliwack finished 1 for 8 on the power play.

Minutes later Anthony Vincent was called for roughing giving the Express another power play.

On that advantage came more great Express chances. First Alex Ambrosio ripped a one timer over the net. Then Linell was set up on a tip play and put it over the net with a half open cage.

As the third period progressed the Express had struggles coming out of their zone that led to turnovers.

One of those turnovers proved costly. Adan Berg stole the puck then dropped it back to Matt Slick who finally got some puck luck to go the Chiefs way as his shot hit the post then bounced off Stevenson and bounced in giving Chilliwack a 2-1 lead.

As the final minutes of the game ticked down the chances kept coming for the Express. Christian Sanda was stopped with a clean look from the slot. Then off the ensuing draw Colby Pederson was stopped on a backhand by Caron.

Then in the final minutes the Express had a two man advantage but wasn't able to get the equalizer. The Express finished 0 for 7 on the power play.

The shots finished 29-23 in favour of Chilliwack.

Friday was card cut down day where teams have their number of cards to add players to their roster reduced to 25 of they have that many left.

As a result the Express made a number of transactions. 20 year old blue liner Jake Brien was traded to the Pembroke Lumberkings of the CCHL for future considerations. And forward Aiden Wagner was released.

Brien dressed for 125 games in an Express uniform over parts of three seasons. He was a real warrior for the Express and deserves to be commended for how hard he played during his time with the club. He would be the first player to go down and block a shot for a teammate. On top of that he was a first class player off the ice.

Wagner only dressed for 23 games with the Express. But he certainly left a mark for being a hard working player on the ice. Off of it he has a very outgoing personality who treats everyone with the utmost respect.

Thanks to both Jake and Aiden for their contributions to the Express.