Team Sites
Follow the BCHL
BCHL

Express Tame Grizzlies in Victoria

by Eddie Gregory  |

Greg Lapointe scored twice while Luke Burke and Steven Bellini each scored their first BCHL goals as the Express opened their two game Island division road trip with a 5-1 win in Victoria Tuesday night. Click here for boxscore

The game started quick with Lapointe potting his first of the night just 1:17 into the game snapping home a great cross ice pass from Connor Gregga to open the scoring. After Tuesday’s game the Express are 14-2 this season when they score first.

The lead exactly one minute as Victoria pulled even on a breakaway goal by Cody Monds. That would be the lone goal to beat Clay Stevenson who finished with 28 saves for his 11th win of the season.

Lapointe struck again early in the second period with an absolute wicked wrist shot over the shoulder of Blake Wood to put the Express into the lead for good. He’s the first Express player to hit double digits in goals this season.

Then some faces who haven’t got in on the scoring parade got rolling. Luke Burke potted his first BCHL goal by re-directing a Nick Carabin in the high slot to open a 3-1 Express lead.

1:46 later the Express broke out on four man rush and Adam Trotman made a nice drop pass to the trailer Steven Bellini who snapped home his first BCHL goal for a 4-1 Express lead after 40 minutes. That goal chased Blake Wood who let in 4 goals on 19 shots.

Like Sunday vs. Langley, the Express spent a good chunk of the opening half of the third period killing penalties. But they got the job done finishing a perfect 6 for 6 on the night on the PK. The Express went 0 for on their lone powerplay of the night.

Tyler Schleppe wrapped up the scoring crashing the net and burying a rebound on Joe Howe for a 5-1 Express lead.

Up next for the Express is a visit to Nanaimo on Wednesday in a game that features two of the better defensive teams in the BCHL this season.