Despite the fact the season is less than half over, the Express went into this past weekend recognizing a need to keep pace in the Mainland Division. Entering Friday, they were losers of their last 5 games, having given up 26 goals in that span. Recognizing a need to shake things up, Coach/G.M. Jon Calvano made some significant roster changes to address some of the team's weaknesses.
By the time Friday rolled around, 6'2" defenceman Michael Maciag, 6'5" defenceman Bradley Ryan, and 6' forward Travis Stephens were in the lineup, making their Express debut in front of a packed PSLC audience. All three would make an immediate impact for their new club.
Zachary Pryzbek opened the game's scoring, 2:10 into the 2nd with a wrap-around and rebound conversion. Justin Georgeson earned an assist with some boardplay down low after taking a Maciag pass. The Express would jump ahead 2-0 on the very next shift when Beau Orser ripped a slapshot from the point, causing a rebound to ricochet right onto John Seimer's stick. Seimer quickly relayed it home, with the 2nd assist going to newcomer Ryan.
The Warriors would silence the home crowd with 3 consecutive goals in the middle of the high-scoring 2nd frame. Alex Kerfoot would even things up with a pinpoint wrister from just inside the right faceoff dot. The game was even at 3's heading into the final 20 minutes of regulation.
Travis Stephens, the third player picked up heading into the weekend, would make his mark early in the 3rd period with a cross-ice pass to Brandon Morley who finished by tucking the puck 5-hole on Garrett Rockafellow. The Express were on top 4-3 and the building was rocking!
It looked like the home squad was going to be a stalwart down the stretch with some nice saves by Express tender Cole Huggins and some solid back-checking. A seemingly broken play found a loose puck on the stick of Reid Simmonds who fired it past the Express keeper, tying the game at 4 with less than 3 minutes to play.
This seesaw match needed not 1, but 2 overtime periods to declare a winner. The back-and-forth continued through the first OT frame, with both Huggins and Rockafellow turning aside some great scoring chances.
The Express would break through early in the 3-on-3 overtime when Brandon Morley streaked down the wing creating a rebound opportunity for Philip Zeilonka. Zeilonka had the presence of mind to wait out Rockafellow and pick an opening when the goaltender attempted to reset. The 5 game losing streak was over.
Saturday night saw a rematch, but this time at the Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna. The Warriors appeared a little weary in the back end of the home-&-home with the Express carrying much of the play through the first 2 periods.
Philip Zeilonka extended his goal scoring streak to 5 straight games after opening the scoring on a one-timer just 3:57 into the game. Zeilonka then followed up with a powerplay goal when he picked a corner with a wrist shot from the slot at 7:11. Michael Maciag extended the lead to 3 on his first goal as a member of the Express before David Pope brought the game back within two on a beautifully executed set play involving Marcus Basara and Seb Lloyd.
The Express outshot the Warriors 23-6 in the first and a total of 34-11 after two. Zachary Pryzbek buried his second in as many nights on an early Express powerplay. That would be all the Coquitlam side would need as they went on to a 4-2 victory. Bradley Ryan had two assists on the night, kicking off his first weekend with the squad in style.
The Express are in Surrey on Friday night before hosting the Trail Smoke Eaters Saturday night. Puck drop on Saturday is 7pm and don't forget to bring your Teddy Bear donations for the Teddy Bear Toss.
