Sometimes the best defence truly is a good offence.
The Express kicked off weekend two of the preseason with a bang as they filled the back of the net enroute to victory last night. 6-4 was the final and they got offence from pretty much every source you could hope for.
The Eagles struck first via Brady Kudrick who netted his third of the preseason and then the see-saw went back and forth thereafter.
Powerplay goals are always a plus, especially when they tie the game and Nick Wellenreiter couldn’t have had better timing evening the score a few minutes after the Eagles got their early momentum. A wicked wrist shot from the left side of the zone found the top half of the net in what was a common theme on the night.
Another excellent part of the Express’ game was their pressure at the blueline. Jackson Krill knocked the puck away from the defence and took it all the way to score a beauty and earn a 2-1 advantage heading into the first intermission.
Eric Young started the second period with a moment he’d certainly like back as he tried to pass the puck to Leo Eperjesi and the puck didn’t cooperate. Instead it went right to Siwhan Kim who quickly turned and fired it past the down netminder for a shorthanded goal. Brandon Gill then capitalized on right place, right time as he gathered a bouncing puck in full stride behind the Express net and scored a warp-around to give the Eagles their lead back with just over three to go in the second.
Nick Wellenreiter would not have the Express going into the final frame down a goal as his second of the night again found the top corner on a rebound bid.
Cooper Wilson kept the goal scoring party going in the third period as the veteran D-man from North Vancouver let a wrister go from distance on the powerplay and it whistled it’s way to the back of the net. The former Nanaimo Clipper was solid on the backend all night and had two points on the night altogether.
James Shannon gave the Express their biggest lead of the night at the 12:46 mark as he challenged the blueliners of the Eagles and came away with a breakaway. On his horse he went and with a defender draped all over him by the time he beared down on Colton Jugnauth, he was not to be denied. The top half of the goal was battered and bruised last night with the Express having an exceptional game in the accuracy department.
Surrey got one back off the stick of Gavin Rocha who made an excellent rush down the middle of the zone to finish off a good possession by the defending champs. After that all that was left in the goalscoring department was Ryan Staples’ empty netter after the puck pinballed around the centre ice area.
For as much as the offence is to be praised last night the defence and netminding were no slouches either for Coquitlam. The Eagles had multiple instances where they held the puck in the offensive zone for a minute plus and the tired bodies on the Express didn’t break. The line was held when it mattered most. One criticism of the blueline from last evening was definitely care of the biscuit in their own end. There were far too many errant passes picked off either aimed at clearing the zone or even sideways D to D with Eagles lurking close by to pounce on the error. It is the preseason after all so players haven’t had an incredible amount of time to get comfortable with changing pairings and new bodies every night so it will smooth out surely.
Up next for the Express is a venture to the Eastern Fraser Valley where they find themselves in a tango with a long storied rival in Chilliwack.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER – Kasper Walther Sneve
3 STARS
3rd – SUR – Brady Kudrick – 1G
2nd – COQ – James Shannon – 1G 1A
1st – COQ – Nick Wellenreiter – 2G 1A
– Ian Wilson
