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Express Down Caps, Win Third Straight

By Eddie Gregory

Three goals in 50 seconds in the second period turned Saturday’s contest in favour of the Express and they never looked back in a 5-2 win over Cowichan Valley. Click here for boxscore

It was the third straight win for the Express and their third straight come from behind victory.

Cowichan Valley opened the scoring right as a Jordan Schulting penalty hit 0:00 as a shot by Lucas Vanroboys beat Clay Stevenson on the stick side.

As the Express looked for the equalizer they ran into a Capitals team that did a good job of closing space on the Express in the first period to create plays.

It was 2-0 Cowichan Valley on a goal by Paul Selleck as he went to the net and buried the rebound of a Adam Conquest shot from the right wing.

As the period progressed the Express slowly began to establish more of a presence in the Capitals zone.

Josh Wildauer late in the first period got the Express on the board burying a loose puck at the end of the Capitals crease.

Josh Wildauer – Photo credit Garrett James

 

The game quickly turned on a double minor penalty assessed to Cowichan’s David Malaragni. Chase Danol tied it at two at 4:21 with the first penalty still in effect. It was the third straight home game that saw the Express overcome at least a two goal deficit.

25 seconds after Danol’s goal the Express had their first lead of the game on Drew Cooper’s third goal of the season on a one timer past Blake Wood. All three of Cooper’s goals have come on one timer plays and on the powerplay.

Cole Edgerton capped off three Express goals in 51 seconds one timing a pass from Josh Bruce in the slot for a 4-2 Express lead.

Now with a two goal lead in hand the Express never looked back. Josh Bruce was a strong presence for the Express using his strength to control pucks on the offensive zone. He came close to his first goal of the season on a toe drag chance in the 2nd period.

Josh Wildauer in the third period showed great determination maintaining possession of the puck after being knocked to the ice and getting back up and dumping it deep in Caps zone. He followed up on the play and was able to feed Danny Pearson who quickly snapped home his third of the season for a 5-2 Express lead.

After allowing two first period goals, Clay Stevenson shut the door the rest of the way. He capped off his 6th win of the season on a breakaway save late in the third period off Paul Selleck. Stevenson finished with 20 saves.

The Express remain one point back of the Chilliwack Chiefs for first place in the overall BCHL standings. But the Express based on points percentage are tops in the BCHL having played one fewer game than the Chiefs who have played 20 games while the Express have played 19.

Wednesday the Express will have a school day game and will play host to the Langley Rivermen.