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Express Show Well in Chilliwack

by Jacob Lazare  |

The Express left no doubt for their fifth consecutive win yesterday. After a come from behind Chiefs win last time the teams met at the Chilliwack Coliseum, the Express handed the Chiefs back to back losses on home ice with a 4-1 win on Sunday. Click here for the boxscore.

The Chiefs came out fast, with the team’s locking things down defensively early on. The Express then found themselves in penalty trouble, having to kill off three minor penalties in the opening frame. Despite being outshot considerably, the Express opened the scoring after a defensive zone faceoff play worked to perfection. Drew Cooper banked the puck off the boards and Greg Lapointe showed off his wheels. He picked up the puck with just enough room to make a move to his backhand and beat Mathieu Caron.

With less than a minute to play in the first period, Massimo Rizzo extended the Express lead with his fourth goal of the season. Rizzo tucked in the rebound from a Drew Cooper point shot the Express entered the break up 2-0.

In the second period it was the Express with some powerplay opportunities. Steven Bellini was the benefactor of a net front scramble as the puck squirted out right to his stick. He scored his third of the year and it was a 3-0 Express lead. In a rare occurrence, the Express scored more goals in the second period than they allowed shots on goal. Chilliwack native Clay Stevenson was solid in the opening period, and was rewarded with a bit of a break in period number 2.

The Chiefs made things interesting early in the third period when Cooper Moore’s shot found its way through traffic and past Stevenson. But the resilient Express bounced back quickly. A few minutes later it was Massimo Rizzo once again finding himself in a position to score, picking up the puck in the slot and ripping it just inside the post. The 4-1 lead would prove to be more than enough as the Express held on for the victory.

The Express return to home ice for one game before embarking on another Island Division road trip. The Prince George Spruce Kings visit the Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex on Wednesday, November 6 at 7:15.