The Lockport Express celebrate following a first-period goal. The team went on to beat the Wilkes-Barre Miners by a score of 6-2. (SCOTT LEFFLER / ENP STAFF)

By +Scott Leffler 
scott.leffler@eastniagarapost.com

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The Lockport Express returned to their old form this evening at Cornerstone CFCU Arena, dominating the third-seed Wilkes-Barre Miners by a score of 6-2.

Prior to the game, the Lockport Express presented a $600 check to Adam Page and the Sled Hockey Foundation. (CRAIG BACON / CONTRIBUTOR)

Actually, the Miners dominated in at least one aspect of the game — shots. But of their 57 shots, they could only get a pair past Lockport's starting netminder, Tyler Shotwell.

Wilkes-Barre got on the board first at 6:35 of the first period with a goal by Daniel Leisser, assisted by Guillaume St. Germain and Michael Tugo. Then Lockport asserted itself. Frank Vecchio Jr. scored at 9:30, assisted by Nick Siracuse and Christian Whitcomb. Chris Gasiewicz made it 2-1 at 17:26. Ryan Logar and Daniel Golba assisted.

Peter Robinson sings the national anthems prior to tonight's game. (GEORGE N. ROOT III / CONTRIBUTOR)

In the second period, Mark Friol put the home team up 3-1, assisted by Dillon Hayes and Jordan Pocobello. Wikes-Barre pulled back within one at 14:07 with a St. Germain goal assisted by Brett Welsh and Leisser. Friol scored his second of the night at 18:04, assisted by Jacob Burford and Jordan Pocobello.

In the third period, Friol capped off the natural hat trick at 9:36, assisted by Justin Durkee, making the score 5-2, Lockport. Nick Siracuse added the final goal at 19:44, assisted by Hayes and Pocobello.

The game was not without drama as Lockport found itself two players short on three different occasions. The team, once again, had trouble staying out of the penalty box. And with less than six seconds remaining in the game, tempers flared and the referees had to maintain order.

The same two teams play again Saturday at 6 p.m. If Lockport wins, they face the winner of the Jersey Shore Wildcats/Roc City Royals series. If Wilkes-Barre wins, they will play a third game Sunday at 1 p.m. with the winner player the winner of the other series.

Nick Siracuse of the Lockport Express and Johannes Leitner of the Wilkes-Barre Miners participate in ceremonial faceoff prior to tonight's game. Adam Page of the USA Sled Hockey team drops the puck as Lockport Express Head Coach Frank Vecchio looks on. (CRAIG BACON / ENP CONTRIBUTOR)

There's more photos from tonight's game here. (link)

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