Esposito makes 26 saves as Chilliwack blanks Kelowna 1-0
Canadian Press
Jan 14, 2007, 1:04 AM EST
CHILLIWACK, B.C. (CP) - Matt Esposito made 26 saves for his first career shutout to lead the Chilliwack Bruins to a 1-0 victory over the Kelowna Rockets in Western Hockey League action on Saturday.
Ken Petkau scored for Chilliwack (13-30-2-2), which snapped a five-game losing streak.
Petkau broke in alone on Rockets goalie Kris Westblom at 8:13 of the second period and beat him with a quick shot on the glove side.
At the other end, Esposito, a 17-year-old rookie, was shaky at times but good when he had to be.
His best saves came in the third period with the Rockets controlling the play and hoping to tie the game. Esposito got a pad on Colin Long's attempt from five feet away, and he foiled Brett Breitkreuz with a right-pad save on a shot off a faceoff.
Esposito, an Edmonton native, was also lucky.
Cody Almond hit the post on a second-period breakaway, and Justin Bernhardt's weak first-period shot beat him to the stick side but trickled wide of the open net.
The Bruins were also buoyed by their penalty killing unit, which stopped seven Rockets power plays.
FULL STORY
Canadian Press
Jan 14, 2007, 1:04 AM EST
CHILLIWACK, B.C. (CP) - Matt Esposito made 26 saves for his first career shutout to lead the Chilliwack Bruins to a 1-0 victory over the Kelowna Rockets in Western Hockey League action on Saturday.
Ken Petkau scored for Chilliwack (13-30-2-2), which snapped a five-game losing streak.
Petkau broke in alone on Rockets goalie Kris Westblom at 8:13 of the second period and beat him with a quick shot on the glove side.
At the other end, Esposito, a 17-year-old rookie, was shaky at times but good when he had to be.
His best saves came in the third period with the Rockets controlling the play and hoping to tie the game. Esposito got a pad on Colin Long's attempt from five feet away, and he foiled Brett Breitkreuz with a right-pad save on a shot off a faceoff.
Esposito, an Edmonton native, was also lucky.
Cody Almond hit the post on a second-period breakaway, and Justin Bernhardt's weak first-period shot beat him to the stick side but trickled wide of the open net.
The Bruins were also buoyed by their penalty killing unit, which stopped seven Rockets power plays.
FULL STORY
