BY RANDY SCHULTZ
LOCKPORT NY – Goaltender Tyler Shotwell made 55 saves while Mark Friol scored a hat-trick to lead the Lockport Express past the Wilkes-Barre Miners, 6-2, at the Cornerstone CFCU Arena. The Express leads the Mines in the best-of-three playoff series, 1-0.
The Miners opened the scoring in the first period on a goal by Daniel Leisser. The Express came right back to tie the game, 1-1, on a goal by Frank Vecchio, Jr.
The Express took the lead, 2-1, late in the first period when Chris Gasiewicz tallied.
Lockport opened up a two-goal lead early in the second period when Friol scored to make it 3-1. But Wilkes-Barre came back within one when Guillaume St. Germain scored.
Moments later Friol scored his second goal of the contest to give Lockport a two-goal advantage, 4-2.
Friol opened the third stanza with his third goal of the night, a natural hat-trick, that gave the Express a commanding lead, 5-2. Nick Siracuse rounded out the scoring for Lockport in the final period.
The Miners outshot the Express for the game, 57-36. Shotwell was the number one star of the game. Friol was the games second star.
Jordan Pocobello had three assists on the night, while Dillon Hayes added two.
The two teams will face each other again Saturday night at the Cornerstone Arena at 6 p.m. If a third game is needed that will be played on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the Cornerstone Arena.
