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Express railroaded 9-2 by Reading

January 6, 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, suffered their worst defeat in team history with a 9-2 loss at the hands of the Reading Royals on Friday night at the Sears Centre Arena.

This game started out with a bang and had all the makings of a shootout early on. Reading jumped on the board first at 2:56 when D Ryan Button took a pass from RW Yannick Tifu and bounced it off of the blocker of G Allen York and into the net. Just 59 seconds later, Royals F Kenny Ryan got York to bite on the fake and slid the puck in front of the net to C Casey Haines who flipped it over York to make the score 2-0. Chicago answered back, however, at 5:21 when F Kyle Ostrow fired a shot that deflected off of G Mark Owuya's chest as Express C Joe Cucci put back the rebound to bring Chicago within one. Just 59 seconds later Reading made it a two-score game again when C Ryan Cruthers flicked the puck past York. The period ended with Reading leading 3-1 and holding a 12-9 shot advantage.

Reading kept the pedal to the metal in the second period scoring three unanswered goals. The first goal came at 14:48 when LW Matt Schepke wristed a shot under the glove of York. 29 seconds later, RW Dale Mitchell caught York out of position and buried one in the back of the net to make the score 5-1. Reading tacked on another goal at 18:28 when Tifu skated through the zone and feathered a pass to Mitchell that he flicked past York for his second goal of the period.

The Express chipped into the lead just 5:04 into the third period when LW Chad Painchaud fired a slap shot over the blocker of Owuya. Reading waited just 15 seconds to answer back with another goal by Haines. The Royals struck again at 7:24 when Cruthers took a pass from Tifu and fired it past G Paul Dainton who entered the game to begin the third period. Reading scored the final goal of the period at 16:25 on the power play when RW Yannick Riendeau lofted a wrist shot past Dainton, to end the game with the 9-2 score.

Power plays: CHI: 0/1; REA: 1/6

Three stars: 1. D. Mitchell (REA); 2. R. Cruthers (REA); 3. C. Haines (REA)

Notes:

The nine goals surrendered by Chicago is the most given up in a single game in team history... C Joe Cucci scored his first professional goal in the first period... F Anthony Maiani and D Jonathan Zion both made their Chicago Express debuts tonight... The Express fell to an Atlantic Division team for just the second time this season, as their record against the Atlantic Division is now 4-2-1-0.

The Express continue at home tomorrow night, once again against the Reading Royals. It is Chicago Express Hat Giveaway night, as fans can get a Chicago Express hat as they enter the building. The hats will be given out on a first come, first served basis. To get tickets, call 224-220-1333.

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