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Express Weekly: Final Road Series of the Regular Season this Week

March 5, 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, went 1-2-0-1 last week, collecting three of a possible eight points during the week. Chicago is now 26-23-6-4, and their 62 points puts them in ninth in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the Florida Everblades who sit in eighth place, the final Eastern Conference playoff position.

Games this week (Home team in CAPS):

Express @ KALAMAZOO - Friday, March 9 @ 6:30 pm

Express @ KALAMAZOO -Saturday, March 10 @ 6:30 pm

Last week (Home team in CAPS):

Wednesday, February 29

EXPRESS 3, Toledo 2

After one goal by the Walleye in each of the first and second periods, Chicago's offense came to life in the final half of the third period. LW Maxime Gratchev started the Express scoring with 8:26 left to play, cutting the Toledo lead to 2-1. D Nathan Lutz then tied the contest up at 2-2, tapping home a pass from D Jonathan Zion with 2:05 remaining. Before the end of regulation, Gratchev struck again after F Pierre-Luc Faubert knocked the puck off the stick of G Alec Richards right to Gratchev in front of the empty net. The deciding goal was scored with just 42 seconds left to play, lifting the Express to a 3-2 victory on Leap Day.

Thursday, March 1

CINCINNATI 4, Express 2

Chicago and Cincinnati traded goals late in the first period, as F Ryley Grantham knocked in a rebound for Chicago at 15:05 and Cincinnati LW Garrett Wilson answered just under three minutes later with a marker of his own. D Taylor Ellington restored Chicago's lead with a quick wrist shot after an offensive zone faceoff win, and Chicago held a 2-1 lead after the first period. Neither team was able to strike in the second period, but the Cyclones dominated the third frame, as D Taylor Aronson, RW Joe Devin, and C Mathew Sisca all scored to grant Cincinnati a 4-2 win.

Saturday, March 3

Toledo 4, EXPRESS 3, SO

For the second straight game, Chicago notched the first goal of the contest as D Jonathan Zion slid home a backhander 3:23 into the game. Toledo came back with two of their own goals before the end of the period to lead 2-1 going into the second frame. After an early second period goal by the Walleye, Zion tallied his second of the game on the power play at 8:01. D Nathan Lutz followed that up with a wraparound goal just over three minutes later to even the scoring at 3-3. After neither team struck in the third or overtime, the Walleye secured the extra point to win in a shootout, taking down Chicago 4-3.

Sunday, March 4

Wheeling 2, EXPRESS 0

Both G Allen York for Chicago and G Peter Delmas for Wheeling stood on their heads throughout the entirety of the contest. The lone goal surrendered by either netminder was scored by Wheeling D Adam Ross, as he fired a slap shot through traffic with just 5:18 left to play. The Nailers added one final goal on an empty net, as F Matt Schepke hit the empty cage from the neutral zone for the game's final goal, securing a 2-0 victory for Wheeling.

Team Notes:

Chicago has not allowed a power play goal in three straight games, dating back to March 1, their longest such streak of the season. The team has killed off 13 straight penalties, and has allowed just two goals in the last 27 opportunities.F Pierre-Luc Faubert played in his 200th ECHL game on Saturday night.The Express have earned at least one point in eight of their nine Saturday home games, with a record of 5-1-2 in Saturday home games.F Ryley Grantham played in his 150th ECHL game on Thursday, scoring a goal in the contest.LW Maxime Gratchev's final minute goal on Wednesday was his second such tally in three games. He also scored with 53 seconds left in the game against Florida on February 25 to force an eventual shootout.

Team Leaders:

Goals: Johnson - 18

Assists: Donati - 47

Points: Donati - 61

Power play goals: Johnson - 7

Short-handed Goals: Johnson - 2

Plus/Minus: Lutz - +21

Penalty Minutes: DiDiomete - 236

GAA: Mannino - 3.15

Save Percentage: Mannino - .899

League Leaders:

RW Tyler Donati - 47 assists (2nd, ECHL)

RW Tyler Donati - 19 power play assists (t-3rd, ECHL)

RW Tyler Donati - 25 power play points (4th, ECHL)

D Nathan Lutz - +21 plus/minus (2nd, ECHL)

D Darcy Campbell -16 power play assists (t-3rd, defensemen)

D Taylor Ellington - 6 shootout goals (t-2nd, ECHL)

LW Devin DiDiomete - 236 PIM (1st, ECHL)

D Scott Wietecha - 15.1 shooting percentage (5th, defensemen)

D Scott Wietecha - 11 goals (4th, defensemen)

D Darcy Campbell - 16 power play assists (t-3rd, defensemen)

D Jonathan Zion - 16.7 shooting percentage (3rd, defensemen)

Chicago - 1,213 PIM (1st, Eastern Conference)

Chicago hits the road for the next two games, as they battle the Kalamazoo Wings at Wings Stadium on Friday, March 9, and Saturday, March 10. Chicago then returns home to take on the Nailers once again on Wednesday, March 14. The homestand continues against Toledo on Friday, March 16, and against the Trenton Titans on Saturday, March 17, and Sunday, March 18. Friday night is a Dollar Friday at the Sears Centre Arena, while on Saturday the Express will have St. Patrick's Day Festivities, including a game-worn-jersey auction after the game. Following Sunday's game, all fans are invited to skate with the team for free after the contest. To get tickets to any of those games, call the Express at 224-220-1333.

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