BCHL's Surrey Eagles dominate Coquitlam Express to earn 7-3 home win

Robert Lindores led the Surrey Eagles to an encouraging 7-3 victory against the Coquitlam Express at home on Wednesday (February 16). The forward scored two goals against the away team, while forward Tyler Morley and defenceman Mitch Jones each tallied three points over the course of the game.

Surrey still holds second place in the Coastal Conference. They’re 20 points behind the Powell River Kings—the top team in the BCHL—and have enough of an edge over the third-place Langley Chiefs to keep their spot, meaning the Express is a potential first round playoff matchup for the Eagles.

The home team started the first period with enthusiasm right out of the gate, a strength that usually gets them an early game lead. About seven minutes in, defenceman Beau Orser scored his third of the season with passes from forward Daniel Gentzler and Morley.

It only took the Express several minutes to respond as rookie forward Destry Straight capitalized on the team’s first power play opportunity to tie up the score. But Surrey regained control with under a minute left in the frame to regain their lead as Jones tallied a goal on the man advantage.

The Eagles kept their momentum through the second period. Forward Jeff Vanderlugt tallied the team’s third goal 55 seconds into play, and Gentzler pushed the team’s score up to four less than three minute later.

Lindores scored his first of the night to make it 5-1 before Coquitlam managed to respond. Express forward Alex Petan tallied his team’s second power play goal at 12:20.

Surrey dominated the final frame as well, but it was Coquitlam who managed the first goal of the period, capitalizing on an early power play. But the Eagles’ strong offensive plays, seen throughout the night, kicked in shortly after. Lindores scored a shorthanded goal and the league’s top player Bradley McGowan tallied Surrey’s seventh and final goal with a man advantage.

The Eagles only had three power play opportunities, but capitalized on two of them. The Express went three-for-eight on the power play.

Surrey will take on Coquitlam again on Friday (February 18). It’s the Eagles’ last away game of the regular season. Their final game is against Salmon Arm on Saturday (February 19).

Hayley Woodin writes for the Vancity Sports Blog.