The Express defeated the Rivermen 6-1 tonight.
First Period:
As the period rolled on the chances were very even with shots mirroring each other initially.
At 6:04 Kyle Kim was called for tripping and put the Express on the power play. We generated opportunities but were unable to capitalize.
At 18:08 Liam Tanner broke the tie with a shot that beat Gundarah.
At 19:07 Hayden Gelbard was called for hooking putting the Express back on the power play, and holding it going into the second.
Second Period:
52 seconds in Tanner Attew was called for hooking giving the Express a 5 on 3. Michael Rubin made them pay with a point shot that found it’s way through and extended the lead to 2.
At 2:53 Tyler Kopff picked up an interference minor to put the Express on the penalty kill. The Express did well to stifle the Rivermen and right as the penalty ended, Giesbrecht found himself on a breakaway and scored to make it 3-0.
Shortly after, Brady Estabrook got his own interference minor at 5:45. The Express did similar things and even had McHardy find himself on his own breakaway, but was unable to beat Gundarah.
At 12:26 Brett Ursulak got a boarding minor on Colton Alexander. The Express kept momentum going but could not find their first power play goal.
At 18:07 Luke Vardy broke through the Rivermen defense and dished it off to Drew Garzone for the Express’ 4th goal of the game.
Third Period:
30 seconds in, Kopff and Ursulak got offsetting roughing minors giving us 4 on 4 for 2 minutes.
At 4:35 Tanner Attew got the Rivermen on the board with a shot that beat Manji on the glove side.
Rubin got an interference minor at 8:39 but the Express killed it off.
With 9 and a half minutes left, Hayden Gelbard got a roughing minor. Dixon capitalized with shot from the left circle to make it 5-1.
Shortly after, McHardy and Garzone found themselves on a 2 on 1 and McHardy buried it to chase Gundarah and give us the final score of 6-1.
Post Game Thoughts:
A game with 6 different goal scorers, 2 short handed breakaways, and 2 power play goals leaves little left to wish for. A strong team effort through and through to get in the way of chances and forechecking hard to create space and opportunities.
Manji was given a quiet night by his team but stayed strong from a good push in the first 10 minutes of the first period.
#FullSteamAhead | #RunThisTown
