Entering the weekend tied with the Cyclones at 24 points each, the Express aimed for a strong showing on Saturday. Unfortunately, the team came out flat on home ice and got into early penalty trouble. Solid saves by goaltender Zach Andrews (29 saves) kept the Cyclones off the scoreboard. The Express picked things up by the second, finding the back of the net twice. Matt Venoit got things going in what has become his customary spot in the slot slamming home a Lou Malvasi pass to give Walpoe the 1-0 lead. Just over four minutes later Michael Steele scored his first goal of the season with another assist going to Malvasi. Steve Charest also collected assists on both goals.

In the third, the Cyclones cut the lead in half on a bang bang off an offensive zone face off. Both teams continued the up and down play until a major face masking and a double bench minor gave the Express a nine-minute power play. Jake Brightbill scored the eventual game winner from his left point position with a top-shelf wrister to make it 3-1. Minutes later Austin Grosvenor put the game out of reach with a tip-in of a Brian Greene one-timer fed from Matt Harrington.

Despite the victory, the coaches were not overwhelmed by the performance. "We did just enough and that was enough to win tonight," said Coach Tony Dalessio "We started slowly and fortunately Zach did a great job -- especially in the first -- to keep things at bay until we got going."

In Sunday's match-up against the Bulldogs the Express again started slowly and found themselves down by a goal after the first period. The Bulldogs extended their lead just 1:38 into the second on a two-on play in front of the Express net. "The Bulldogs came ready to play, they were flying and they outplayed us in the first period and the beginning of the second," said Head Coach Mark Kumpel.

Then Walpole got moving. Steve Charest cut the Bulldog's lead in half on the power play and the Express tied the game just moments later with a Venoit rebound. Things continued to get better thanks to the line of Malvasi (3 assists), Charest (2 goals, 2 assists) and Venoit (2 goals, 1 assist). Charest made a goalmouth pass to Malvasi who, with only a weak tip on the puck snuck one through the legs of the Bulldogs goaltender. Venoit was there to jam in the loose puck to put Walpole on top for good. With 4:38 remaining in the second defenseman Ben Oskroba lasered a snap shot from the top of the right circle on a nice neutral zone play by Harrington and Cody Armstrong to put the Expres up 4-2 after two periods. Venoit added his second goal of the game in the third to close out the scoring and give Walpole the win. Derek Kump was again sensational making 31 saves in net.

"We didn't play our best hockey," Kumpel said after the game. "The Cyclones and Bulldogs only had the one game against us this weekend and had all week to prepare. We were fortunate that our goaltenders once again kept things close, as they have all season, until we found our legs."

The Express travel to Cromwell, Conn. next weekend to face the Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack twice -- on Saturday at 7:30 pm and again on Sunday at 1:30 pm. "Champions is the toughest building in the league and the Wolf Pack are dangerous at home," said Dalessio. "We need to be ready to go as soon as the puck drops."