by Eddie Gregory |
The powerplay scored four times and the penalty killing was perfect on the night as the Express remained undefeated on home ice with a 4-1 win over Langley.
The Express have now posted a 7-0 mark at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre and overall are 12-3 on the season.
After a number of trades in recent days and roster adjustments the Express had a different look. That included Ethan O’Rourke making his Express debut. His rights were acquired in the 2018 trade that also saw the Express pick up Tyler Schleppe from Prince George for Sam Kozlowski.
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O’Rourke watched one the best chances early on for the Express off the stick of Greg Lapointe who ripped a shot off the goal post over the shoulder of Braedon Fleming but it stayed out.
He then left his mark in his debut helping the Express get possession off a won face-off on a powerplay. Then the puck was dished to Josh Wildauer who moved down the right boards then teed up a point shot from Nick Carabin who rang it in off the post and a 1-0 Express lead after one.
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Langley tied it early in the second period with Brendan Budy behind the Express net setting up Joseph Musa who quickly snapped a shot past Clay Stevenson. But that would be the only puck to beat the Express netminder who had solid night with 20 saves.
It didn’t take long after that for the Express powerplay to take over the game. First it was Greg Lapointe dancing in from the right boards and beating Fleming on the stick side to put the Express back in the lead.
On the goal Langley was whistled for another penalty with Jonathan Stein being sent off for hooking. Adam Trotman on the ensuing powerplay buried the 3rd Express goal of the night cashing in a loose puck for his 3rd of the season. For Trotman it was his first goal in 9 games.
In the Express last victory vs. Langley Greg Lapointe showed off his great wheels to jump into the play and finish off a 2 on 1 to give the Express a big insurance goal.
Wednesday he was flying again. He busted his tail to get to a loose puck at the Langley blueline. He then dropped a pass to Massimo Rizzo who undressed the Langley defence then cut to the net but unfortunately got too much on his backhand and the puck went out of play.
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The game settled down in the third period with minimal chances on either side. Late in the frame discipline got away from Langley and the Express found themselves with a lengthy two man advantage. They sealed the game on Greg Lapointe’s second of the night scoring from the slot. The four powerplay goals matches a season high which the Express accomplished opening night in Langley.
They finished 4 for 9 on the powerplay. It’s an eruption for a unit that was 1 for 25 in the previous four games.
The Express will visit Surrey Friday. Then Langley is back in Coquitlam on Sunday afternoon.
