Game Summary: 01/25/2024 - Northwest Express 4 - Steele County Blades - 1

Northwest Express Dominate Steele County Blades, Secure 4-1 Victory

Spooner, WI — The Northwest Express claimed an impressive 4-1 win over the Steele County Blades on Saturday evening at the Spooner Civic Center. With a commanding performance in all three periods, the Express extended their strong season, backed by standout offensive contributions and stellar goaltending

First Period:
The game started with a tightly contested first period. Both teams battled to maintain control, but it was Corcoran who broke the deadlock at 18:05, scoring his 14th goal of the season. Browning and Lundbohm assisted on the play. The Express carried their 1-0 lead into the first intermission without facing any penalties in the opening frame.

Second Period:
​The Express took full control in the second period, lighting the lamp twice while showcasing their special teams' prowess. Browning netted his 29th goal of the season at 7:50 with a shorthanded beauty, assisted by Lundbohm and Corcoran. Later in the period, Browning struck again on the power play at 12:28, finishing a slick passing sequence with assists from Aguilera and Corcoran.
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The second frame also saw tempers flare, culminating in multiple roughing penalties for both teams. Winkler's disqualification for a cross-checking major at 17:20 marked the most significant infraction of the period. Despite the physicality, the Express extended their lead to 3-0 heading into the final period.

Third Period:
The Blades fought back in the third period, cutting the deficit to 3-1 when Vail scored his 11th goal of the season at 5:37, assisted by Tomecek and Jerge. However, the Express responded decisively on the power play at 11:57. Burch capitalized on the man advantage, scoring his 14th goal of the season with assists from Aguilera and Lundbohm to seal the 4-1 victory.
A series of penalties midway through the period, including a fighting major and disqualification for Wolf, added intensity to the closing minutes, but the Express maintained their composure to secure the win.

Goaltending Duel
Express goaltender Freshwater was sensational between the pipes, stopping 35 of 36 shots to improve his record to 18-5-2-0. At the other end, Bowlby made 37 saves on 41 shots for the Blades, but it wasn't enough to overcome the relentless Northwest attack.

Key Stats

• Shots on Goal: Northwest Express 41, Steele County Blades 36
• Power Play: Northwest Express 2/3, Steele County Blades 0/5
• Attendance: 456 fans

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Up Next:
​The Northwest Express will look to carry this momentum into their next matchup as they continue their strong season in front of their home crowd. Stay tuned for game updates and highlights!