Express Pluck Royals 4-2
November 25, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Chicago Express News Release
Reading, PA - The Chicago Express, proud member of the ECHL and proud affiliate of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, collected a 4-2 victory over the Royals led by a three point night from RW Chaz Johnson at the Sovereign Center on Friday night.
C Tyler Johnson opened up the scoring when he rang a shot off the near post and into the back of the net on the power play at 6:51 into the first period. F Tyler Donati and Chaz Johnson assisted on the goal. Reading struck back less than a minute later with a power play goal of their own, as D Denny Urban found a pass in the slot and buried it to even the score. Chaz Johnson regained the lead for the Express with 3:46 to go in the period when he found a rebound off a shot from D Josh Burrows for his fourth point in four periods against the Royals.
Chicago increased their lead after tape-to-tape passing through the neutral zone found Donati streaking up the left wing. Donati blasted a slap-shot past G Karel St. Laurent to increase the Express lead to 3-1 with 8:56 left in the frame. C Yannick Tifu pushed Chicago's lead to 4-1 when a shot from Tyler Johnson bounced to the top of the crease and Tifu tapped the rebound home. The Express scored on four of their first 12 shots through two periods.
The Royals picked up the only goal of the third period, when C Ryan Cruthers found a loose puck in the goal crease and slid it over the goal line with 1:30 left in the contest. It was too little, too late for the Royals, however, as the Express held on for the 4-2 win.
Power plays: CHI: 1/4, REA: X1/4
Three stars: 1. C. Johnson (CHI); 2. T. Donati (CHI); 3. P. Dainton (CHI)
Notes:
C Aaron Marvin returned from the IR tonight. It was his first game since November 6 in Kalamazoo... Chicago's leading scorer LW Blair Riley did not play tonight, as he was loaned to Bridgeport (AHL). Riley has previously played in all 15 Express games... RW Chaz Johnson had five points (2g,3a) in two games against Reading... Reading G Karel St. Laurent was replaced after the second period with G Joe Palmer.
The Express play their next five games on the road before returning home to battle the Kalamazoo Wings at the Sears Centre Arena on December 7.
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