Coquitlam played the game without 10 of their regulars as seven players were injured and three were travelling back from Nova Scotia and the World Junior A Challenge.
The Eagles got on the board just 1:58 into the game when Best netted his first of the day, knocking home the rebound of a Dan O'Keefe point shot. Coquitlam tied the score at 1-1 when Phil Zielonka scored the Express' only goal of the game on the power play with a shot from the bottom of the right circle, but the Birds retook the lead before the end of the opening frame when Best fired a shot over the left shoulder of Coquitlam goaltender Daniel Urbani for his second goal of the afternoon.
Best completed the hat-trick at 5:20 of the second period when he scored with the man advantage, hammering home a one-timer on a two-on-one with Brett Mulcahy. Just 37 seconds later, the Birds went ahead 4-1 when Demico Hannoun picked up his eighth goal of the season after Brady Shaw did some good work in the offensive zone to draw a pair of defenders and Urbani out of position, leaving Hannoun alone in front to tap it in. The goals kept coming for Surrey as Nic Pierog and Stefan Burzan both beat Urbani with shots high on the glove side to give the Eagles a 6-1 lead after two periods.
The Express tried to rally in the third period, firing 17 shots on Santaguida's goal, but the Surrey net minder made a number of huge saves to preserve the 6-1 win for the Birds.
The six goals scored by Surrey marked a season high for goals in a game by the Eagles. Monday's game was also the largest margin of victory for the Birds to this point in the year.
Surrey will return to action on Friday evening when the Chilliwack Chiefs will visit the South Surrey Arena. The opening face-off will be at 7:00pm. Call 604-531-4625 for tickets.
Official 3 Stars:
1. Drew Best - Surrey
2. Michael Santaguida - Surrey
3. Craig Wyszomirski - Surrey
My 3 Stars:
1. Drew Best - Surrey
2. Michael Santaguida - Surrey
3. Mason Blacklock - Surrey
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