From the Jaws of Defeat...

A beautiful individual effort by Stephen (Captain Kanga-)Carew on a game winning shorthanded goal in overtime gave the Express a 3-2 win Saturday night over the Springfield Jr Blues. The Express took an early lead in the first period on a very similar goal also by Carew. The Jr Blues had several good chances to tie the game following the Express goal, but couldn't crack the Express defense and goalie Jason Horstman until late in the period. Josh Daley put the Express back in front with his second goal of the season midway through the second period. That looked like it would be the deciding goal of the game until the Jr Blues got a soft goal late in the third period. They threw a shot on net from the corner behind the goal, which somehow found its way through Horstman's leg pads and into the net, and we headed into overtime. In a departure from normal, the Express took two penalties late in the game which had the Jr Blues on the powerplay for most of the overtime period, but Carew sent the home crowd to the exits with a smile on their faces.

It's a nice win for the good guys coming off the disappointing effort in Mason City two nights ago. The Express picked up two points, to keep pace with Alexandria and Bismarck who both won, and the point Springfield got for the overtime loss doesn't matter with them no longer in the Central Division.

- The Express killed off all 5 of Springfield's powerplays, and now have the second best penalty kill unit in the NAHL at 90.83%. Mahoning Valley's PK unit is first at 91.80%.

- Carew's shorthanded goal to win the game was the 5th shorthanded goal scored by the Express this season, tied with Alexandria for the most in the NAHL.

- In the last 47 times the Express have been shorthanded, they have only allowed 3 goals, while scoring three shorthanded goals of their own.

- Carew is tied for 4th in the league in goals scored with 14, and 19th overall in total points.

- Horstman improved his record to 6-2 and lowered his goals against average to 2.35, which is 9th best in the NAHL.


The good news I promised you the other night, which some of you were wondering about at the rink, is the addition of a new forward to the Express roster. His name is David Kurbatsky, and he was in the lineup tonight wearing #7 and playing on a line with Chris Darnell and Brian McGinty. He is a 1988 birth year from San Ramon, California. David started the season with the Wenatchee Wild, and played one game with the Wichita Falls Wildcats before coming to the Express. Prior to this season, he played with the Winkler Flyers in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, where he scored 96 points over the last two seasons. It looks like the Express added another nice piece to the puzzle.

Next up for the Express is the second game of the series with the Jr Blues Saturday night in Owatonna, before the hit the road for a Sunday night showdown with the Thunder in Albert Lea.

See you at the rink.

--BK