Game Preview: Express at Cincinnati Tonight
March 31, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Chicago Express News Release
Preview: Chicago Express (34-26-7-4, 79pts) at Cincinnati Cyclones (34-28-2-7, 77pts)
When: Puck drops at 6:35 pm
Where: U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH
Tonight's Matchup:
The conclusion of the regular season couldn't have boiled down to a more exciting finish. The Chicago Express currently sit in a tie for seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoffs, as both Chicago and South Carolina enter the game with 79 points. Despite being in a tie for seventh, the Express have not clinched a playoff birth, as Cincinnati trails Chicago by just two points in the standings and the Reading Royals are just one point back. South Carolina, Reading, and Cincinnati all own tie-breakers against the Express, necessitating that Chicago has a lead in overall points over at least two of those three teams at the end of the night. A victory by Chicago, whether in regulation, overtime, or a shootout, guarantees them a spot in the playoffs, while a regulation loss will eliminate the Express. Should the Express lose in overtime or a shootout, they will still qualify for the playoffs if South Carolina loses in regulation to Greenville, or Reading fails to earn two points against the Trenton Titans.
Express Notes:
Chicago played their final regular season home game last night, beating Kalamazoo 4-2. The Express finished their home schedule with a 20-11-3-3 record, including a 16-4-2 mark against teams from the North Division... Chicago's win last night pushed their winning streak to five games, tying a season high for consecutive victories. The Express also went 5-0-0 from January 28 through February 4... D Taylor Ellington had his four game goal streak snapped yesterday. The streak was the longest in Express history... The Express have allowed just three power play goals in their opponent's last 29 chances for a .897 penalty kill percentage... The Express are 8-6-1 against the Cyclones this season, but just 2-5-0 in Cincinnati.
Recent Transactions:
D Matt Tomassoni was signed on Wednesday... F Patrick Tiesling signed on Wednesday... D Brett Motherwell was transferred to the 21-day IR on Tuesday... D Drew Paris was transferred to the 7-day IR on Tuesday... D Scott Wietecha was placed on the 3-day IR on Tuesday... F Johan Ryd was released on Monday... D Devin DiDiomete was signed on Saturday.
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