Express Weekly: Chicago Earns Five of Six Points
February 27, 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, took five of six possible points last week as they went 2-0-0-1 against Kalamazoo and Florida. Chicago is now 25-21-6-3 and sit one point behind both the Cincinnati Cyclones and Florida Everblades who are currently tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference.
Games this week (Home team in CAPS):
EXPRESS vs. Toledo - Wednesday, February 29 @ 7:00 pm
Express @ CINCINNATI - Thursday, March 1 @ 6:35 pm
EXPRESS vs. Toledo -Saturday, March 3 @ 7:30 pm
EXPRESS vs. Wheeling - Sunday, March 4 @ 4:00 pm
Last week (Home team in CAPS):
Friday, February 24
Express 4, Kalamazoo 3
Kalamazoo got off to a fast start, taking a 3-0 lead into the first intermission. Undaunted, the Express put home three of their own in the second, as F Pierre-Luc Faubert, D Jonathan Zion, and D Scott Wietecha all tallied in the frame. Zion added his second of the game 6:28 into the third period, and the Express clamped down after that to secure the 4-3 win.
Saturday, February 25
Florida 5, EXPRESS 4, SO
The Everblades scored 1:50 into the first period and held a 1-0 lead at the first intermission. The two sides traded goals in the second period, with F Kyle Ostrow, F Mike Embach, and RW Chaz Johnson picking up Chicago's goals. Florida tallied a power play marker early in the third period. LW Maxime Gratchev salvaged a point for Chicago, scoring with just 53 seconds left in the game to force an eventual shootout. The teams needed seven rounds of shooters to determine the winner, but the Everblades came out victorious to win 5-4.
Sunday, February 26
EXPRESS 6, Florida 2
C Aaron Marvin broke a scoreless tie 5:56 into the second stanza with a wrist shot to give Chicago the game's first goal. Just under four minutes later, LW Devin DiDiomete struck as well and the Express took a 2-0 lead into the second intermission. D Drew Paris scored on the power play at 4:06, and 24 seconds later F Ryley Grantham stretched Chicago's lead to 4-0. Grantham tallied his second of the period shortly after Florida got on the board which moved the Chicago lead to 5-1. A late 5-on-3 goal got Florida to within two goals, but D Darcy Campbell deposited a rink-length empty net goal for the final 6-2 score.
Team Notes:
G Peter Mannino stopped a penalty shot in the third period on Sunday. It was the second straight week in which he has faced an attempt, and has now stopped three of the four penalty shots he has faced this season.RW Tyler Donati earned his 150th ECHL assist on Friday when he assisted on Chicago's game winning goal.Chicago earned their first win against a South Division team on Sunday in their 6-2 win over the Everblades. They will not face a team from the division again during the regular season, and ended the year 1-7-2-3 against the South.D Drew Paris returned to the lineup on Sunday after missing 28 games while with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. Paris had the game winning goal.D Nathan Lutz, D Darcy Campbell, and G Peter Mannino wore special jerseys on Saturday as part of the ECHL Silver Skater and Golden Goalie programs.D Jonathan Zion scored his 50th North American professional goal on Friday, which turned out to be the game-winning goal.
Team Leaders:
Goals: Johnson - 18
Assists: Donati - 47
Points: Donati - 61
Power play goals: Johnson - 7
Short-handed Goals: Johnson - 2
Plus/Minus: Lutz - +19
Penalty Minutes: DiDiomete - 221
GAA: Mannino - 3.16
Save Percentage: Mannino - .896
League Leaders:
RW Tyler Donati - 61 points (5th, ECHL)
RW Tyler Donati - 47 assists (2nd, ECHL)
RW Tyler Donati - 19 power play assists (3rd, ECHL)
RW Tyler Donati - 25 power play points (2nd, ECHL)
D Nathan Lutz - +19 plus/minus (t-2nd, ECHL)
D Darcy Campbell -16 power play assists (t-3rd, defensemen)
LW Devin DiDiomete - 221 PIM (1st, ECHL)
LW Devin DiDiomete - 21.7 shooting percentage 5th, ECHL)
D Scott Wietecha - 16.4 shooting percentage (2nd, defensemen)
Chicago - 1,160 PIM (1st, Eastern Conference)
The Express host Toledo at the Sears Centre Arena on Wednesday and Saturday, and close the weekend against the Wheeling Nailers on Sunday. On Saturday, fans will get a chance to grab a Chicago Express Rally Towel, courtesy of Biggers Chevrolet, as they enter the building. Sunday's game includes a free post-game skate with the team for all fans in attendance.
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