The Coquitlam Express opened their regular season Friday night with a contest against the Surrey Eagles. The Express prevailed and started the season off with a huge 7-4 victory on the road!
The first period, although it ended knotted at one, was controlled by the Express for the majority of the period, particularly in the first 10 minutes. Jaeger Murdock scored the Express’ first goal of the season as he pounced on a lucky bounce off the corner boards. The Eagles made quick work on their lone powerplay of the opening period to tie up the game, continuing their prowess from the POD season, where they posted a staggering 38% on the man advantage. The Express outshot the Eagles 12-8 in the first period.
This hockey game really opened up in the middle period, as seven goals would end up being scored! The Express managed to erase, not one, but two two-goal deficits in the period courtesy of goals from Ray Hamlin, Tyler Kopff, Carter Cochrane, and Arlo Merritt. The Express’ tying and go-ahead goals came just 14 seconds apart and only 20 seconds after the Eagles made it a 4-2 affair! Brendan Williams found a couple of helpers in the second period and both Kopff and Hamlin chalked up a goal and a helper in the frame. The Express outshot the Eagles 19-10 in the second period.
The third and final period was all Express, as they’d go on to add two more goals on the way to their 7-4 victory! In our pregame article, we talked about the importance of the Express winning the special teams battle and they did just that, potting three powerplay goals and only surrendering one. Additionally, we talked about the importance of the Express’ second line contributing offensively and, boy, did they ever – the second line of Kopff, Williams, and Cochrane combined for five points on the night!
The star of tonight was Ryan Tattle of the Express as the University of Connecticut went big with one goal and three helpers on the night. This came in the first game of his ‘Score for Cancer’ campaign. With every point he tallies this season, money will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society! Check out the website here: https://scoreforcancer.ca/
The Express are back in action Saturday night as they take on the Chilliwack Chiefs in another road game!
#AllAboard #WeAreAllExpress
