Express Weekly: Four Games at Home on this Week's Schedule
March 12, 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, split back-to-back road games against the Kalamazoo Wings over the weekend, and currently sit three points behind the Cincinnati Cyclones for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Express are 27-24-6-4, with 64 points, on the season.
Games this week (Home team in CAPS):
EXPRESS vs. Wheeling - Wednesday, March 14 @ 7:00 pm
EXPRESS vs. Toledo - Friday, March 16 @ 7:30 pm
EXPRESS vs. Trenton - Saturday, March 17 @ 7:30 pm
EXPRESS vs. Trenton - Sunday, March 18 @ 4:00 pm
Last week (Home team in CAPS):
Friday, March 9
KALAMAZOO 5, Express 2
A shorthanded goal by F Mike Embach put Chicago up 1-0 at the end of the first, but Kalamazoo owned the second frame. Two power play goals helped the Wings gain a 2-1 lead, and they stretched it to 3-1 after scoring one second after a Chicago penalty expired. RW Danick Paquette brought Chicago back to within one goal when he tallied near the start of the third, making the score 3-2. It was as close as Chicago would get, as Kalamazoo netted two goals before the end of the contest to win 5-2 over Chicago. G Rob Madore was the story for the Express, stopping 41 of the 46 shots he faced in the game.
Saturday, March 10
Express 2, KALAMAZOO 0
After a scoreless opening frame, RW Danick Paquette put the Express ahead 11:43 into the second period. The 1-0 lead held until D Jonathan Zion doubled Chicago's advantage, slamming home the puck after a shot from D Taylor Ellington rang off the crossbar. Two goals were more than enough for G Rob Madore, who turned aside all 26 shots he faced on Saturday for his first professional shutout in just his second pro game.
Team Notes:
G Rob Madore stopped 41 shots on Friday night, setting a new Express record for most saves by a goaltender in a single game.On Saturday, G Rob Madore started his second professional game, stopping all 26 shots for his first pro shutout and the third one in Express history. It was also the first time the Kalamazoo Wings had been shut out all season.F Pierre-Luc Faubert earned his 100th ECHL assist on Saturday when he assisted on Chicago's first goal. He picked up assist number 101 later that game.Chicago scored the first goal of the game in both games last weekend, and have now scored first in four of their last five games.The Express have kept their opponents from scoring a power play goal in three of the last four games, killing off 90.5 percent of their penalties during that span.
Team Leaders:
Goals: Johnson - 18
Assists: Donati - 47
Points: Donati - 61
Power play goals: Johnson - 7
Short-handed Goals: Embach, Johnson - 2
Plus/Minus: Lutz - +23
Penalty Minutes: DiDiomete - 246
GAA: Madore - 2.50
Save Percentage: Madore - .931
League Leaders:
RW Tyler Donati - 47 assists (4th, ECHL)
RW Tyler Donati - 19 power play assists (4th, ECHL)
RW Tyler Donati - 25 power play points (4th, ECHL)
D Nathan Lutz - +23 plus/minus (1st, ECHL)
D Darcy Campbell -16 power play assists (t-3rd, defensemen)
D Taylor Ellington - 6 shootout goals (t-2nd, ECHL)
RW Danick Paquette - 188 PIM (5th, ECHL)
RW Danick Paquette - 44 minor penalties (2nd, ECHL)
D Scott Wietecha - 14.7 shooting percentage (5th, defensemen)
D Scott Wietecha - 11 goals (t-4th, defensemen)
D Darcy Campbell - 16 power play assists (t-3rd, defensemen)
D Jonathan Zion - 17.1 shooting percentage (2nd, defensemen)
Chicago - 1,256 PIM (1st, Eastern Conference)
Devin DiDiomete released
The Express announced today that they have released LW Devin DiDiomete. The left winger was issued a seven game suspension from the ECHL for his actions against the Kalamazoo Wings on Friday, March 9. DiDiomete leads the ECHL in PIM with 246 in 38 games. He played 36 games for Chicago, scoring 10 goals and adding 14 assists during his tenure.
Chicago returns home to take on the Nailers 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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