Express Weekly: Chicago Returns Home to Face Cincinnati, Gwinnett
February 13, 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, return from a six-game road trip this week as they face the Gwinnett Gladiators on Friday and the Cincinnati Cyclones on Saturday.
Games this week (Home team in CAPS):
EXPRESS vs. Gwinnett - Friday, February 17 @ 7:30 pm
EXPRESS vs. Cincinnati -Saturday, February 18 @ 7:30 pm
EXPRESS @ Kalamazoo - Sunday, February 19 @ 3:00 pm
Last week (Home team in CAPS):
Friday, February 10
SOUTH CAROLINA 3, Express 2
The Stingrays jumped on Chicago early, as two goals in the first 4:48 of the opening period saw the Stingrays take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. Chicago got back to within one when RW Tyler Donati buried a power play goal 5:07 into the second stanza, but South Carolina built back a 3-1 lead with a man-advantage goal of their own just over seven minutes later. C Aaron Marvin put the Express back in the game at 12:26 of the third with a rebound goal, but the Stingrays held off the Express for the remainder of the period for the 3-2 win.
Saturday, February 11
GWINNETT 3, Express 1
D Scott Wietecha scored his fifth goal in five games to break a scoreless tie with 3:24 left in the second period before Gwinnett came right back to tie the game at 1-1 just 1:11 later. A 5-on-3 goal for the Gladiators with 2:18 left to play forced the Express to pull G Peter Mannino and the Gladiators scored the game's final goal on the empty net to win 3-1.
Sunday, February 12
GREENVILLE 7, Express 6, OT
After the Road Warriors went up 3-1 early in the second period, the offense opened up for both sides. Chicago struck for three goals in 2:27 to go up 4-3 and held that lead into the second intermission. Greenville scored two quick goals in the third, reclaiming a 5-4 lead, but RW Chaz Johnson rattled off two straight goals in 1:02 to pick up the second hat trick in Express history and put Chicago ahead 6-5. The Road Warriors never quit, however, tying the game just before the halfway point of the third and then securing the extra point with just 37 seconds left in overtime.
Team Notes:
RW Chaz Johnson scored three goals on Sunday to pick up the second hat trick in Chicago Express history.The 13 combined goals between Chicago and Greenville on Sunday set an Express record for most combined goals in a game. Chicago has seen 11 combined goals, the second most, four times this season.The Express are now 0-6-4 against teams from the South Division, but have another chance to earn a win this Friday against Gwinnett at the Sears Centre Arena.F Kyle Ostrow earned his first pro fighting major, dropping the gloves with Gwinnett D Brad Miller on Saturday.D Scott Wietecha is riding a six-game point streak, with five goals and five assists during that span.The Express finished their six-game road trip with 3-2-1-0 overall record.
Upcoming Schedule:
Tuesday, Feb. 14 - Practice at Leafs Ice Centre: 10:00 am
Wednesday, Feb. 15 - Practice at Leafs Ice Centre: 10:00 am
Thursday, Feb. 16 - Practice at Sears Centre Arena: 10:30 am
Friday, Feb. 17 - Game at the Sears Centre Arena: 7:30 pm vs. Gwinnett
Saturday, Feb. 18 - Game at the Sears Centre Arena: 7:30 pm vs. Cincinnati
Sunday, Feb. 19 - Game at Wings Stadium: 3:00 pm vs. Kalamazoo
Monday, Feb. 13 - Day Off
*All Practice Times are subject to change. Please call 224-220-1333 for more information.
Team Leaders:
Goals: Johnson - 17
Assists: Donati - 39
Points: Donati - 52
Power play goals: Johnson - 7
Short-handed Goals: Johnson - 2
Plus/Minus: Lutz - +16
Penalty Minutes: DiDiomete - 178
GAA: Mannino - 2.89
Save Percentage: Mannino - .906
League Leaders:
RW Tyler Donati - 52 points (5th, ECHL)
RW Tyler Donati - 39 assists (2nd, ECHL)
RW Tyler Donati - 19 power play points (5th, ECHL)
D Darcy Campbell -15 power play assists (1st, defensemen)
RW Tyler Donati - 30 assists (t-5th, ECHL)
LW Devin DiDiomete - 178 PIM (2nd, ECHL)
LW Devin DiDiomete - 23.8 shooting percentage 5th, ECHL)
D Scott Wietecha - 16.0 shooting percentage (2nd, defensemen)
D Nathan Lutz - +16 plus/minus (5th, defensemen)
Chicago - 1,027 PIM (1st, Eastern Conference)
The Express return to the Sears Centre Arena on Friday, February 17. February 17 is a Dollar Friday, featuring one dollar beers and one dollar hot dogs.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from February 13, 2012
- Stingrays Fight Back to Defeat Everblades 4-3 - South Carolina Stingrays
- San Jose Recalls Goaltender Alex Stalock to Worcester - Stockton Thunder
- Condors in the Community: Players to Visit Valley Schools - Bakersfield Condors
- Grizzlies Home Wednesday; Then 10-Straight on Road - Utah Grizzlies
- ECHL Transactions - February 13 - ECHL
- Condors Weekly: Perfect 3-0 Week for Bakersfield - Bakersfield Condors
- Colorado Eagles Weekly Update - Colorado Eagles
- Gladiators Weekly Update - Atlanta Gladiators
- K-Wings Return Home - Kalamazoo Wings
- Walleye, Condors enjoy season-best winning streaks - ECHL
- K-Wings Weekly - Kalamazoo Wings
- Four Home Games this Week - Stockton Thunder
- Brian Foster Returns to Cyclones - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Express Weekly: Chicago Returns Home to Face Cincinnati, Gwinnett - Chicago Express
- Greenville Road Warriors Weekly - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Toledo Walleye Weekly - Toledo Walleye
- Forney Returned to Eagles' Roster - Colorado Eagles
- Cyclones Weekly - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Jackals Weekly - Elmira Jackals
- Stingrays Gameday: 2-For-1 Ticket Night Tonight Against Everblades - South Carolina Stingrays
- Stingrays Weekly: Stingrays and Everblades Clash this Week - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - February 13 - ECHL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
