Ted Dowling scored three goals as the Montreal Express defeated to the Columbus Landsharks, 12-10, Saturday night before a crowd of 3,122 fans at Nationwide Arena.

Dowling's hat trick goal, scored with just more than three minutes to play in regulation, was the final one of the game, allowing some breathing room for the Express' defense, which had earlier allowed Columbus to tie the game at ten.

Gewas Schindler opened the scoring barely more than five minutes into the game, a score which stood for four minutes, until Montreal's Travis Kilgour and Bruce Alexander struck to take a 2-1 lead. Schindler and Mark Steenhuis reclaimed the lead for Columbus on goals just 24 seconds apart, but Alexander put the match back to all-square with a final-minute, unassisted tally.

Todd Richard and Steenhuis traded goals in a thirty-seven-second span, then Montreal opened fire on Columbus Landsharks goaltender Mike Miron. First, Dowling found rope, followed by Tracey Kelusky less than a minute later. Dowling scored again, then Steve Penny tallied his second of the season, chasing Miron from the net in favor of Chris Levis. A Greg Floris goal was all the Landsharks could muster during the four-goal run, which sent Columbus to the locker room down 8-5.

In contrast to the six and seven goals of the first two periods, the third quarter was far more defensive in nature, with only three goals recorded. Kelusky scored 39 seconds into the half, extending Montreal's lead to 9-5, but Spencer Martin and Brent Rothfuss narrowed the gap to two on power-play goals just 26 seconds apart in the twelfth minute.

Richard, like he did two periods earlier, scored the initial goal of the fourth quarter, on a power play. Columbus erased the three-goal deficit, though, on scores from Schindler, completing his hat trick, Cory Kahoun, and Martin, tying the game at 10-10 with five and a half minutes to play.

Aimé Caines scored for Montreal a minute later, though, in what became the game-winner after Dowling's final goal set the score at 12-10.

Curtis Palidwor stopped 47 shots to post the win for Montreal, which Miron and Levis combined for 39 saves in defeat.

Both teams are in action next week. Montreal hosts Toronto on Friday, while Columbus returns to Nationwide Arena on Saturday to face Albany.

BOX SUMMARY
                                      1  2  3  4     TOT
Montreal Express (7-6)                3  5  1  3  --  12
Columbus Landsharks (5-8)             3  2  2  3  --  10

MONTREAL EXPRESS              COLUMBUS LANDSHARKS
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
Richard        2 - 3     5    Schindler      3 - 3     6
Dowling        3 - 1     4    S Martin       2 - 0     2
B Alexander    2 - 1     3    Steenhuis      2 - 0     2
Kelusky        2 - 1     3    Rothfuss       1 - 1     2
Caines         1 - 2     3    Arbuckle       0 - 2     2
T Kilgour      1 - 1     2    Church         0 - 2     2
Lough          0 - 2     2    Floris         1 - 0     1
Penny          1 - 0     1    Kahoun         1 - 0     1
                              Greer          0 - 1     1
                              Maynard        0 - 1     1
                              Taylor         0 - 1     1

Shots on goal           51    Shots on goal           57
Saves made by (GA)      45    Saves made by (GA)      39
   Palidwor (12)     45          Miron (8)         20
                                 Levis (4)         19
Penalties                9    Penalties                7
Penalty Minutes         21    Penalty Minutes         17
Power Play Chances       4    Power Play Chances       6
Power Play Goals         2    Power Play Goals         4
   Dowling            1          S Martin           2
   Richard            1          Rothfuss           1
                                 Steenhuis          1
Shorthanded Goals        0    Shorthanded Goals        0
Loose Balls             70    Loose Balls             83
   Kelusky           10          Greer             14
   Palidwor          10          Cousins            7
   Codd               9          S Martin           7
                                 Steenhuis          7
Faceoffs Won            18    Faceoffs Won             8
   MacArthur    (16- 8)          Cousins      ( 7-14)
   Lough        ( 2- 0)          D Suddons    ( 1- 4)

 *** STATS OFFICIAL BY VERIFY WITH COLUMBUS 'SHARKS ***