Express Railroad Florida 6-2
February 26, 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, earned five of six points this weekend as the ended a three-in-three set with a 6-2 victory over the Florida Everblades at the Sears Centre Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Neither team scored in the first period but they set the tone for a very physical game. Chicago took the lead 5:56 into the second period with a delayed penalty on the way when LW Devin Didiomete fed C Aaron Marvin a pass in the slot that Marvin lifted over G Pat Nagle's blocker. Didiomete got into the act again at 9:54 when F Anthony Maiani set Didiomete up with a one-timer in front of the net that skimmed right under the glove of Nagle. The Everblades kept constant pressure on G Peter Mannino but the Chicago netminder turned away all 11 shots he faced in the period including a 3-on-1 breakaway and a penalty shot. The Everblades held a 19-18 shot advantage through the middle stanza.
The flood gates opened in the third period, starting with D Drew Paris hammered home a power play goal 4:06 into the third period to put Chicago up 3-0. F Ryley Grantham increased the Chicago lead to 4-0 just 24 seconds later. The Everblades answered right back, snapping Mannino's shutout bid at 5:05 of the final frame. Grantham came right back for Chicago, tallying a 4-on-4 goal to the put the Express ahead 5-1. After a slew of penalties in the final five minutes of the game, Florida capitalized on a 5-on-3 with F Rylan Galiardi deflecting home a back door pass with 1:34 left to play, making the score 5-2. D Darcy Campbell had the final word, putting home a rink-length goal shorthanded on an empty net directly off a defensive zone faceoff win from C Aaron Marvin to secure the final 6-2 win for Chicago. G Peter Mannino finished the contest stopping 25 of 27 shots for the Express.
Power plays: CHI: 1/7; FLA: 1/4
Three stars: 1. R. Grantham (CHI); 2. J. Zion (CHI); 3. P. Mannino (CHI)
Notes:
LW Devin DiDiomete completed the Gordie Howe hat trick in the third period, as he had a goal, an assist, and a fight in the game. He also was whistled for a total of 27 PIM, setting an Express record for PIM in a single game and surpassing 1,000 PIM for his professional career... The Express earned their first win against a South Division team, as they are now 1-7-2-3 against the South this season. Chicago will not face another southern division opponent for the remaineder of the regular season... D Drew Paris returned to the Chicago lineup tonight after missing 28 games while playing for the Toronto Marlies. He scored the game winning goal on the power play in the third period.
Chicago hosts the Toledo Walleye at the Sears Centre Arena on Wednesday, and Saturday, and face the Wheeling Nailers at home on Sunday.
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