On Wednesday the Coquitlam Express hosted the Surrey Eagles in their final home game before a weekend road trip to the interior. The Express were looking to improve their record to 3-0 against the Eagles so far this year.
It wasn't the start Coquitlam was looking for early on as the Eagles jumped out to a two nothing lead with goals from Brett Mulcahy and Joseph Drapluk. After taking a time-out the Express began working towards a comeback. Ryan Rosenthal was denied goals twice; once when Surrey goalie Devon Fordyce stopped him on a breakaway and once when his shot struck the goal post. Coquitlam's breakthrough came at 12:29 of the First Period with a little help from the boards. Devon Fordyce left his net to collect what seemed to be a routine dump in by Ben Israel when the puck oddly bounced off the boards and slid right in front of goal. Jace Hennig was first to the puck and put it into a wide open net.
Coquitlam's luck ran out when they were the victim of a close call on Surrey's third goal. It seemed as if time had run out in the First Period before Nicolas Pierog put in a loose puck; however, after a short meeting by the officials, the goal was awarded.
The late goal proved to only be a minor setback as Coquitlam began the Second Period hot and tied the score only 4:15 in. Ryan Rosenthal broke away short handed and beat Fordyce glove side to make it 3-2. Just moments later on an Express two-on-one, Cannon Pieper kept and scored to tie the score at three.
Forwards Brett Mulcahy and Joseph Drapluk came to Surrey's aid once again, scoring their second goals each, giving the Eagles a 5-3 lead. Drapluk batted a bouncing puck past Coquitlam goaltender Gordie Defiel at 7:10 of the period, followed by a Mulcahy tip-in at 9:14.
Coquitlam continued to show resilience in the Third Period getting one goal back on the power play. Corey Mackin took a head shot from Surrey's Ryan Fraser-Lee and on the ensuing man advantage Jace Hennig scored his second of the game to cut the lead to 5-4. Unfortunately for Coquitlam, another Ryan Rosenthal shot off the goal post was the closest they would come to evening the score.
Despite being outshot 39-35, the Express created enough quality scoring chances to win this game. They will be able to bounce right back Friday night as they take on the Trail Smoke Eaters and the Salmon Arm SilverBacks the following night.
Fortis BC Energy Player of the Game: Brett Mulcahy
Scotiabank 3 Stars: 1) Brett Mulcahy 2) Devon Fordyce 3) Canon Pieper
