by Jacob Lazare I
The Cowichan Community Centre is always a difficult building to play in. That is what made the Express’ 5-0 win on Saturday night that much more impressive. Click here for boxscore.
Both teams took a while to settle into the first period. Cowichan had 3 powerplay opportunities in the opening frame, but it was Greg Lapointe’s wrap around powerplay goal that seperated the teams through 20 minutes.
Lapointe opened the scoring with this powerplay wrap around. pic.twitter.com/NL5a3mPG17
— Coquitlam Express Jr. A Hockey Club (@BCHLExpress) November 10, 2019
The Capitals began the second period by peppering Clay Stevenson with shots. The veteran netminder had no problems handling them, and turned aside all 14 second period shots to keep a shutout bid in tact. Steven Bellini would give him some breathing room midway through the frame. Ethan O’Rourke rushed the puck up the wing and deep into the Cowichan zone. Tyler Schleppe poked the puck back to the new Minnesota State commit Bellini, and he beat a falling Zach Borgiel to make it 2-0
A great forecheck by O’Rourke and a perfect finish by Bellini made it 2-0. pic.twitter.com/4On07Vb7Cm
— Coquitlam Express Jr. A Hockey Club (@BCHLExpress) November 10, 2019
With just over a minute remaining on a powerplay to start the third, the Express got the insurance marker that ended up blowing the whole game open. A great regroup send Ong, Gregga, and Wildauer in on a rush, and both Gregga and Wildauer were able to win the battles for position on their defenders. Wildauer finished it off with his 6th of the season.
Here’s the insurance marker early in the third by Josh Wildauer. pic.twitter.com/HU8gUwhtlU
— Coquitlam Express Jr. A Hockey Club (@BCHLExpress) November 10, 2019
4 minutes later, Tyler Schleppe made it 4-0 with a gimme. A Capitals defender coughed up the puck 2 feet in front of Borgiel’s crease, and ran his goalie over trying to get the puck back. Schleppe chipped the puck over the line for on the of easiest of his 11 goals on the season.
Closing out the scoring was Danny Pearson, who snapped a lengthy goalless streak when he deflected Kabir Gill’s point shot into the net with 6:30 remaining in the game.
Clay Stevenson held on to make 34 saves for his third shutout of the season. The reigning Subway BCHL Player of the Week and honourable mention for Player of the Month improved his season win total to 14 (T-1st BCHL), SV% to .950 (2nd BCHL), and GAA to 1.32 (1st BCHL). He also holds a tie for 1st in the league with 3 shutouts with Nanaimo’s Jordan Naylor and Penticton’s Yaniv Perets.
