The Table is Set

The table is set, and the only question is: Will the Express pull up a chair and eat??

Our favorite junior hockey team has 21 games remaining in the regular season, and currently trail co-division leading Bismarck and North Iowa by 4 points in the standings. Now guess who the Express play 14 of their remaining games against?? That's right, the Bobcats and the Outlaws (7 games vs. each). **Cliche Alert** The Express control their own destiny in regards to winning the Central Division. The Express have had some success against both those teams this season, going 2-2-1 versus Bismarck, and 2-4 versus the Outlaws. The Express will need to win 4 or maybe 5 of the 7 remaining games against those two teams to make it happen.

Will it happen?? We'll see, but if you throw out the horrible loss last Saturday night, the Express are playing very good hockey since Christmas. If we have learned one thing over the history of the franchise, is that Cullen coached teams peak at the end of the season.

Tonight's game should be very entertaining. Both the Express and Bobcats are coming off victories Friday night, and every game between the two teams this season has been a barn-burner. The Express "Family 4 Packs" are available for $35, which includes 4 tickets to the game, 4 sodas, and 4 hot dogs. You can also clip the $2 off coupon from this week's Owatonna People's Press, or print one from here: http://www.expressjrhockey.org/documents/coupon_000.pdf .


- The 3 Express representatives at the NAHL Top Prospect Tournament were back in their Express jerseys Friday night against the Blizzard, after playing 3 games in Ann Arbor, Michigan earlier this week. Congratulations to Tony McDonald, Cory Thorson, and Tim Smith, who collectively finished +2 for the tournament. McDonald had 2 goals, and Thorson had a goal and an assist, including the game winner versus the West Division team.

- The magic number for the Express to clinch a playoff berth is 14 going into tonight's game. What that means is any combination of 14 points the Express earn, or the Albert Lea Thunder fail to earn will put the Express in the playoffs. If the Thunder win all of their remaining games (I'll give you a minute to stop laughing).................................................................................................. the Express would have to pick up 14 total points in their remaining 21 games.


See you at the rink.

--BK