Final Score: Fairbanks 6 - Express 4
Tonight the Express gave a much better perfromance than Friday's scrimmage. The Express jumped out to an early lead with a goal by Joe Beaudette assisted by Tim Smith. Shortly after that, the Express took a couple of penalties and Fairbanks tied it up at 1 goal apiece with the 5 on 3 advantage. Fairbanks came out firing in the second period getting 2 goals to make the score 3-1, before Express forward Cory Thorson answered with a goal for the Express. In the third period, the two teams traded goals with the Express getting goals from Nate Percy and Dane Erickson, and the final score ended up 6-4 Fairbanks.
Observations:
- Forward lines: Niestrom/Bournazos/Thorson, Beaudette/McDonald/Carew, Percy/Vierling/New Kid, Erickson/Porter/Daley with Randall switching in.
- Defensive pairings: Puente/Fiala, Smith/Tolkinen, Carson/Fahnhorst with Kozelka switching in
- Penalty kill unit looked solid again tonight
- Power play took some time to get going, although Dane Erickson scored a very pretty goal on a backhand shot during an Express power play in the third period
- Shot totals: Express - 10-10-14=34, Ice Dogs - 12-16-12=40
- Forward John Kruse did not play with a wrist injury, and Defenseman Anthony Orange did not play with an ankle injury
- Defenseman Carson Curran is apparently no longer with the team
- The Express had 2 newer guys on the ice tonight that weren't listed on the initial roster. The new forward played in Canada, and is short and quick. The other new guy's last name is Fahnhorst (spelling??), and he is a big tall defenseman. Possibly Grant Fahnhorst from Wayzata??
- Albert Lea Thunder head coach Brad Zangs was in attendance.
That ends the preseason festivities for the Express. Next up is the first game of the regular season Wednesday at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine. The Express open with a tough opponent in the Mahoning Valley Phantoms, who lost in the Robertson Cup final this spring. We'll finally get a look at what the new Express uniforms will look like, and the roster should be more or less finalized.
--BK
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14 comments:
what were the powerplay or penalty kill lines looking like...or were they just going straight through the lines???
How did the goalies look? 6 goals is a lot.
What happened with Curran? Wasn't he a draft choice? He looked pretty good in tryouts.
Pappy
Finally, got my beer! Made the loss easier to swallow!
Lets go Express. Keep the heads up!
To: Alocholic Anon;
Switch to drinking lite beer or better yet coffee;0
I was told that Nate Percy scored one of the goals.
"I was told that Nate Percy scored one of the goals."
- You're right, I just edited the original post. Percy had the 3rd Express goal. My mistake. Thanks
--BK
Coach has his work cut out for him.
ALCOLOLIC GUY. Join AA
small guy is Michael Palmiscno. From East Grand Forks, MN. Played for Selkir Steelers last season. Good player
"small guy is Michael Palmiscno. From East Grand Forks, MN. Played for Selkir Steelers last season. Good player"
- Thanks for the information.
--BK
"How did the goalies look? 6 goals is a lot.
What happened with Curran? Wasn't he a draft choice? He looked pretty good in tryouts."
- I don't know what the deal is with Curran. I heard from an anonymous tipster that he was no longer with the team, and I didn't see him at the rink Saturday night.
The goalies looked okay. They both have some things to work on, but who doesn't at this point in the season. I only remember one bad goal getting through Saturday night vs. Fairbanks.
--BK
"what were the powerplay or penalty kill lines looking like...or were they just going straight through the lines???"
- I didn't make any notes regarding special teams lines, but I'm thinking it pretty much followed the even strength lines.
--BK
BK: The Machine beat MV, do you think we will? I am a bit perplexed about our guys and lack of experience.
"BK: The Machine beat MV, do you think we will? I am a bit perplexed about our guys and lack of experience."
- I'll probably make a prediction on the Express vs. Phantoms game, but I'll save that for later this week. I can't draw any conclusions from the two MVP vs. MCM preseason games, as I didn't see them in person.
--BK
BK - Thanks for the info, we appreciate it. Couldn't be there for the games but planning on attending the opener.
Pappy
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