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Express Drops 4-3 Decision in Fargo

December 28, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Owatonna Express News Release


FARGO, ND - But for a single whack of the puck at the final buzzer, the Southern Minnesota Express might have stolen a point and forced overtime Wednesday night in Fargo, ND but it wasn't meant to be as the Express dropped a 4-3 decision to the first-place Fargo-Moorhead Jets. Trailing 3-1 entering the third period, the Express closed the gap to a single goal on Mike Montgomery's 12th of the season just 1:50 into the period. The Jets pulled back in front by a pair on Phil Fox's second goal of the game just past the midway point. But the Express still made a game of it.

With goalie Nick Hopper (Culver City, Calif.) on the bench in favor of an extra attacker, Stu Bickel (Chanhassen, Minn.) cashed in at 19:00 to make the score 4-3. The Express assault continued to the final buzzer, with the last whack of the puck off the stick of James Gaulrapp (Owatonna, Minn.) failing to cross the goal line as the final buzzer sounded. Joel Gaulrapp had the other Express goal, his 9th of the season on a first-period powerplay. "One minute left is plenty of time to score," said Express defenseman P.J. Kavaya (San Clemente, Calif.), "but it wasn't meant to be. James came out of the corner and made a nice shot and Chris Barth dove at the puck to try and put it in. We had our chances."

Fargo-Moorhead, playing without leading scorer Kai Kantola (Raleigh, NC), also had goals from Brandon Richardson (San Clemente, Calif.) and Dane Bushey (Duluth, Minn.). B.J. O'Brien (Lakeville, Minn.) stopped 30 shots in the Jets' goal, as the Express outshot Fargo-Moorhead 33-26. "I thought we played pretty well for two periods," Kavaya said. "It was like playoff hockey out there and I think they just wanted it a little more than we did in the second period. We have to come out Thursday and play well in all three periods if we're going to beat these guys."

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