The Express fall 6-5 in overtime to the Chilliwack Chiefs.
First Period:
Before the game began Evan Brown was called for delay of game as he was on the ice past the allotted time putting the Express on the penalty kill right off the bat.
50 seconds into the game, Devlin was called for a high-sticking minor which left the Express with 3 guys on the ice for 1:10. They managed to kill both penalties off.
At 3:49 Aaron Davidson would get a roughing minor which the Chiefs would kill off, and then at 8:42 he would score to make it 1-0 Chiefs.
6 seconds after the goal the Chiefs took a hooking minor. The Express power play went to work and Mirko Buttazzoni potted his 8th of the season to tie the game at 9:54.
Some rough stuff would ensue as we saw everyone taking a man which resulted in multiple misconducts and finished with the Chiefs picking up the extra roughing.
Kotai would get a tripping minor at 15:37 but the Express penalty kill remains strong.
Second Period:
Vardy took an early roughing penalty 22 seconds in and the Chiefs rolled with the momentum. They scored at 1:16 to convert the power play and then scored again at 2:22 to make it 3-1 Chiefs.
The Express would answer back with a pair of their own as Hamlin found a loose puck out front at 6:38, and less than 20 seconds later Dixon would tie it up with his 11th of the season.
Tim Delay at 11:27 gave the Chiefs back the lead.
Moger was called for a blow to the head at 11:45 but it was killed off.
The Chiefs would get another one at 18:53 as Milburn got one past a sprawled Manji.
Third Period:
At the end of the second, Chiefs player Teleguine was called for a 4-minute slewfoot going into the third. The Chiefs would kill off all 4 minutes but take another penalty at 4:32 and Gavin Giesbrecht would capitalize at 5:32.
Teleguine would pick up an unsportsmanlike penalty at 7:13 but the Chiefs would hold their lead.
The Express pulled Manji in the final minutes and with 25 seconds left, Gavin Giesbrecht received a beautiful pass from Buttazzoni and ties the game forcing overtime.
OT:
Express would get called for too many men at 2:50 off a line change and the Chiefs would score the game winner at 4:25.
Post Game Thoughts:
The Express showcased their power play as well as their fight to never go down easy, and managed to get a point.
Their deficit came from defensive lapses that allowed players to walk in easily and take high-danger shots on Manji, who made a series of very athletic saves in overtime.
Too many unnecessary penalties proved to be the downfall in tonight’s game as the game winner was on the power play for the Chiefs.
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