Express Score Three in the First to Neutralize Cyclones 4-1
March 28, 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, scored three times in the first 10 minutes of the opening period to take down the Cyclones 4-1 at the Sears Centre Arena on Wednesday night.
The scoring started off in an interesting manner when Cyclones D Maury Edwards, being pressured by F Kyle Ostrow, went to push a Taylor Ellington clearing attempt behind his own net and fired it past his own goaltender to give the Express the 1-0 lead just 3:50 into the game. Ellington would be credited with his 12th goal of the season. That seemed to open up the flood gates in the period as just under 4 minutes later, Maxime Gratchev hammered a rebound past Cyclones G Brian Foster's glove. RW Chaz Johnson and LW Devin DiDiomete assisted on the play. DiDiomete wasn't done scoring as he took a puck from D Steven Delisle and deked Foster down to the ground before he roofed a puck to take the 3-0 lead at 9:07. The period would end with the same 3-0 score and Cincinnati holding an 11-9 shot advantage.
Cincinnati added a goal of their own with just 23 seconds to go in the second period. After G Rob Madore stopped a barrage of shots, Cyclones F Anthony Luciani picked up the puck behind the cage and scored his 24th goal of the season on a wraparound to bring the game to within two. Chicago would end the frame with a 3-1 lead while Cincinnati held a 20-18 shot advantage.
D Steven Delisle put home the lone goal of the third period 4:10 into the frame. DiDiomete slid a pass to Delisle at the top of the slot, and he blasted it past Foster to push the lead to 4-1. The goal was the first in Delisle's professional career. Madore turned aside all eight shots in the frame, and 27 of the 28 he faced throughout the game, as the Express moved in to a three-way tie for seventh in the Eastern Conference, along with Reading and South Carolina.
Power plays: CHI: 0/2; CIN: 0/4
Three stars: 1. D. DiDiomete (CHI); 2. S. Delisle (CHI); 3. M. Gratchev (CHI)
Notes:
D Steven Delisle's third period goal was the first of his professional career... Chicago is now 6-1-1 at home against Cincinnati... D Taylor Ellington has a four game goal streak, with four goals during that time. The four game goal streak is the longest in Express history... With his first period assist, RW Chaz Johnson earned his 150th ECHL point.
The Express host Kalamazoo on Friday, March 30, as they wrap their 2011-12 regular season home schedule. Friday night is a Dollar Friday, featuring one dollar beers and one dollar hot dogs. The specially priced items will be sold until midway through the third period.
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