Express Enter the New Year with 4-2 Loss
January 1, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Chicago Express News Release
Hoffman Estates, IL - The Chicago Express, proud member of the ECHL and proud affiliate of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, dropped their second straight game to the Road Warriors, as Greenville snapped a 2-2 tie late in the third period to go on to win 4-2 at the Sears Centre Arena on Sunday afternoon.
After falling behind early in their first two games of the weekend, Chicago jumped on the board first at 3:47 when F Mike Embach pushed the puck ahead to RW Pierre-Luc Faubert, who fended off two Road Warriors defenders and flicked the puck off the end of his stick and over the shoulder of G Jason Missiaen. Chicago controlled the majority of the frame maintaining the 1-0 lead and holding a 12-6 shot advantage after the first period.
Greenville evened it up in the second period at 12:38 when D Jeff Caister fired a shot that G Rob Nolan was able to knock down but unable to freeze as F Justin Bowers poked at the uncovered puck and knocked it past the Chicago netminder, tying the game at 1-1. The Road Warriors took advantage of another rebound, as Greenville F Brett Robinson slid the puck past Nolan to give the Road Warriors a 2-1 lead at 16:02. Chicago waited just 52 seconds to knot it back up, as D Scott Wietecha hustled to join a 2-on-1 rush, and tapped home a pass from LW Chad Painchaud to even the score at 2-2 at the end of the frame.
The Road Warriors regained the lead at 9:48 when D Wes Cunningham fired a shot into traffic that deflected off of the body of Bowers and into the Chicago net, giving Greenville a 3-2 lead. Greenville held the one goal lead late into the period, forcing Chicago to pull their netminder in favor of the extra-attacker. Greenville F Marc-Olivier made the Express pay for the gamble, as he tucked the puck into the empty net for the final 4-2 score.
Power plays: CHI: 0/4; GRN: 0/4
Three stars: 1. J. Bowers (GRN); 2. S. Wietecha (CHI); 3. W. Cunningham (GRN)
Notes:
Chicago lost when scoring the first goal of the game for just the second time this season. The Express are now 9-2-2 when scoring the game's first goal... D Darcy Campbell played in his 200th North American professional game. He had an assist in the contest... Chicago lost in regulation at home for the first time since December 14.
The Express are back home next Friday and Saturday for two games against the Reading Royals. Friday night is a Dollar Friday, featuring one dollar beers and one dollar hot dogs. Saturday night is Chicago Express hat giveaway night, courtesy of the Daily Herald. Puck drops at 7:30 for both games.
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