Express Come Back to Beat Birds

For the first time this season, the Surrey Eagles lost a game in which they led after two periods, falling 3-2 to the Coquitlam Express in double overtime at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex on Saturday night. Adam Rockwood netted the winner for the home team at 1:50 of the second overtime period.

The Eagles jumped out to the lead in the opening frame when Trevor Cameron made a nice pass out of the right corner that found Brady Shaw in the high slot, and the former Express forward wired a wrister into the top left corner of the net past Coquitlam net minder Cole Huggins. The Birds had opportunities to extend the lead in the first but had to settle for the 1-0 lead through 20 minutes of action.

Surrey extended the lead in the second. After killing off a 5-on-3 disadvantage, Colton Mackie received a pass from Brett Mulcahy as he stepped out of the penalty box. The Surrey native skated in on a partial breakaway and beat Huggins with a shot inside the left post for the shorthanded goal and his sixth of the season. The Birds controlled the play in the middle frame, holding the Express to just five shots on goal while firing 17 shots at Huggins.

The Express pulled themselves off the mat early in the third. Coquitlam captain Malcolm McKinney found the goal with a slap shot from the top of the left circle that eluded Surrey goalie Scott Lapp at 4:32, and just 44 seconds later, Adam Rossignol tied the game for the Express with his fourth of the season. Neither team could find a go ahead goal in the remainder of the third, and the game would head to overtime.

The Birds had the better of the chances in the first extra period, out shooting the home team 4-1, but Huggins turned aside all Surrey opportunities, and in the three-on-three period Rockwood lifted Coquitlam to the victory when he one timed a pass from Marc Biega past Lapp from the left circle.

Surrey finished ahead on the shot clock with 36 shots as opposed to Coquitlam's 22. The Eagles went 0-for-6 on the man advantage while the Express were 0-for-4.

Despite the loss, the Eagles extended their lead on the Chilliwack Chiefs in the race for the Mainland Division crown due to the fact that the Chiefs lost in regulation to the Prince George Spruce Kings on Saturday night. The Birds will return to action on Monday afternoon when they host the Langley Rivermen in a Family Day matinee game. The puck drops at 2:00pm. For tickets, call 604-531-GOAL (4625).

Pro4 Sports 3 Stars:
1. Malcolm McKinney - Coquitlam
2. Adam Rossignol - Coquitlam
3. Craig Wyszomirski - Surrey

My 3 Stars:
1. Malcolm McKinney - Coquitlam
2. Brett Mulcahy - Surrey
3. Craig Wyszomirski - Surrey