It’s game day!
The Coquitlam Express are ready to visit the Surrey Eagles in what will be the final game of the season for both of these clubs. It’s been a strange season, with lots of ups and downs, but both of these teams should be proud of what they accomplished this season. Puck drop is at 1:00pm for this one.
The Eagles, winners of their last 12, are easily the best team in the Coquitlam Pod. With that being said, the Express have really found their identity in the last few games – most notably, they’ve outscored their opponents 15-3 in their last two games. If they can play at that same level for this afternoon’s game, they can defeat the Eagles – this requires sound defence, a victory in the special teams department, and the ability to execute on the few scoring chances that the Eagles give up.
Special teams have been the Eagles’ bread and butter all season long, as their power play has found a goal on a remarkable 38.6% of their opportunities. In fact, 28% of their goals this season have come on the power play. They’ve gone 3/7 in their last three outings. On the flip side, the Express are coming off of a game in which they went 2/2 on the man advantage – they’ve operated at 33% in their last three games. This is an immensely huge matchup and the winner of this battle will likely win this hockey game.
The Express have a chance to jump into second place in the Coquitlam Pod with a victory here this afternoon. It would mark this team’s third victory in a row, which would be their longest streak of this shortened season. One gets the sense that if this season was longer, this Express team would go on a healthy streak – they’re really playing together and to their potential.
This team needs to play for their 20-year-olds this afternoon – Colten Kovich, Sam Marit, Jaden Little, Will Dow-Kenny, Danny Pearson.
Marit, Pearson, and Kovich are expected to start this game for the Express and set the tone early. Marit is coming off of a three-point outing and Kovich, who missed nearly the entire season, was an absolute physical force on the back end for the Express yesterday. Expect the 20’s to leave it all out there this afternoon, for both clubs.
Looking down the lineup, keep an eye on Tyler Schleppe, who has seven points in his last two games – he’s really found his game in the tail-end of this season and could be a major X-factor in this meeting with the Eagles. He’ll be skating on the third line with Christian MacDougall, who has four points in his last two. This tandem has been exceptionally difficult for their opponents to play against and it helps generate them chances in the offensive end as a result.
Little, another 20-bomb, is expected to get the nod between the pipes for the Express – he’s coming off of his first win of the season and is playing his best hockey as of late.
Get off the tracks – a train is coming through!
#allaboard
