(Walpole, MA) -- The Walpole Express Jr. A team earned five of a possible six points this weekend at the annual AJHL/MJHL Presidents' Day Showcase at Iorio Arena. “We had a tremendous weekend," said Coach Tony Dalessio. "We did just about everything right."

On Friday afternoon, the team quickly dispatched the Philadelphia Little Flyers by a score of 6-1. The Express got offensive production from five different goal scorers. Matt Venoit (2 goals), Ben Oskroba, Danny McAuliffe, Cody Armstrong and Michael Steele all scored, while Lou Malvasi, Mike Smith, Steve Charest and Georgiy Gurianov all had multiple-assist nights. Derek Kump and Zach Andrews combined to earn the victory in net with a total of 23 saves.

On Saturday, the Express lined up against the Washington Jr. Nationals, taking control early with stingy defense and timely offense. The scoring was spread around with seven different scorers. Charest, Gurianov, Jide Idowu, Steele, Brian Greene, Oskroba and Venoit all chipped in goals, while Ryan Eaker, Will Harrop, Wes Heinle, Austin Grosvenor and Malvasi all had helpers. Andrews was again rock solid in the net making 13 saves for another win.

With two wins on the weekend, the Express headed into the much-anticipated match-up with the AJHL South leading New York Bobcats. The Express jumped out to an early lead when Charest one-timed a Venoit pass in the high slot. Gurianov assisted on the goal. The Bobcats drew even just under four minutes later when Mercyhurst recruit Matt Zay scored on the power play. The Express managed to get the lead back before the first half ended when they connected on a power play of their own with Venoit getting the goal and assists credited to Charest and Malvasi. The game remained 2-1 until about the 16 minute mark of the second half when the Bobcats evened the score on a controversial goal. The referee apparently blew the whistle before the puck was shot into the net. The goal was allowed and the teams played scoreless through the remainder of regulation and five minutes of overtime. In the shootout the Bobcats connected for three goals to the Express' two.

"Despite strong play, we just couldn’t find a way to connect on more than two of our 48 shots during regulation," Dalessio said. "We can’t make excuses or point fingers. We need to control what we can control and that’s winning our last five games and our division.” Added Coach Mark Kumpel, "Our goal going forward is simple: we need to win and finish strong heading into the playoffs.”

The Express head into the final two weeks of the regular season with five games remaing and a three-point lead over second place Northern Cyclones. The Express play their final home game at Iorio Arena this Wednesday evening when they take on the Portland Jr. Pirates at 7:30 pm.