Gameday: Eagles @ Express

Who: Surrey Eagles @ Coquitlam Express
When: January 15, 7:00 pm
Where: Poirier Sports & Leisure Centre

Pay-Per-View: FAST Hockey
Radio: Ustream

Offense could be again plentiful tonight as the Eagles wrap up a stretch of four straight games away from home in Coquitlam against the Express. Surrey and Coquitlam have combined for 36 goals in the last three meetings between the two sides this season, and while both teams have made changes since they last faced each other a month ago, the potential for another free-flowing, high-scoring matchup certainly exists.

Surrey enters tonight's game on the heels of an overtime setback Saturday in Prince George that saw leading scorer Danton Heinen force extra time in the final minute of the third period. The short-handed Eagles were undone by current BCHL Player of the Week Justin Rai, though, who scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 Spruce Kings win. Newcomer Chase McMurphy picked up points in each of the two games up north (his first two fixtures in a Surrey uniform), while steady blueliner Kale Bennett, who recently was given an alternate captaincy, chipped in with a goal and an assist Saturday.

Tonight's game could also go a long way in determining playoff seeding in the Mainland division. A victory tonight for Surrey would close the gap on third-place Coquitlam to just two points, as well as increase the gulf between the Eagles and fifth-place Chilliwack to 14 points.

Last Meeting: Jonah Renouf's overtime winner helped the Eagles to a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Express December 15th at South Surrey Arena. Coquitlam leads the season series 4-3 and are 2-1 against Surrey on home ice.

Our Opponent: Barry Wolff's Express return home after going winless in a two-game trip to West Kelowna and Vernon last weekend, but get a chance to show off two new blueliners to the Coquitlam faithful this weekend. Former Langley rearguard Mark Whiteley joins the club from Salmon Arm while J.D. Cotroneo returns to junior hockey after spending time at the NCAA Division III level. Slick forwards Adam Rockwood and Ryan Rosenthal have been thorns in the Eagles' side this season, combining for 27 points (Rockwood alone has 15) in the 7 prior meetings this season.

In the Press Box: The Eagles are expected to be without forwards Jonah Renouf and Mitch Fyffe this evening. The Express have no listed injuries.