Gameday: Eagles vs. Express

Who: Surrey Eagles vs. Coquitlam Express
When: January 29, 7:00 pm
Where: South Surrey Arena

TICKETS: surreyeagles.ca
Pay-Per-View: FAST Hockey
Radio: Ustream

A season series that's seen just about everything draws to a close tonight as the Eagles host Coquitlam. Surrey and the Express have combined for an average of near 9 and-a-half goals per game in the 8 previous meetings, with hat-tricks, penalty shots and lacrosse-esque scores not out of the ordinary.

Tonight, the focus for the Eagles is on continuing their march toward securing a playoff berth after a weekend split in the Interior. Surrey were sublime in a 3-0 shutout Friday in Trail and nearly overcame an early three-goal deficit in a 5-4 setback in Salmon Arm Saturday. A sweep against the Express and Chiefs this week would clinch post-season qualification for the Birds, though the club is certainly cogniscent of the fact that Coquitlam and Chilliwack (who Surrey faces in a home-and-home set Friday and Saturday) are far from easy opponents.

With three games under his belt since returning from injury, Jonah Renouf has picked up where he left off for the Eagles. He, brother Nathan and linemate Braedan Russell combined for eight points Saturday in Salmon Arm, and have been deadly on the power-play in recent outings too.

Last Meeting: Another high-scoring affair in Coquitlam ended in a 7-3 Express victory two Wednesdays ago. The Express lead the season series 5-3, though the teams have split the four prior meetings in Surrey this year.

Our Opponent: The Express will have been thankful for a pair of days' rest after a busy weekend that netted three of six points. Coquitlam edged Merritt at home Friday before a tie and a defeat Saturday and Sunday in Prince George in a three-game stint that netted close to 2,000 kilometres travelled. Despite the weary schedule, Coquitlam did clinch a playoff berth and come into tonight's game hoping to track down the second-place Spruce Kings in the Mainland division. The Express are 6 points back of P.G. with both teams having 12 games left to play.