Malcolm McKinney did all he could yet was no match Wednesday for the Surrey Eagles.
The 18-year-old forward zipped in a pair of goals but his Coquitlam Express were spilled 5-2 by the Eagles in a B.C. Hockey League contest before 623 fans at the Sports Centre.
The loss dipped the Express to 18-23-1-9 and kept them in seventh spot in the eight-team Coastal Conference, five points back of the sixth-place Alberni Valley Bulldogs with a game in hand.
Only nine games remain in the regular season for the Express, who face the first-place Powell River Kings tonight (Friday) at the Sports Centre, 7 p.m.
The Express also host the fourth-place Victoria Grizzlies on Saturday in another game crucial in their stretch drive for the playoffs.
The Eagles out-shot the Express by a lopsided 42-27 count, with Coquitlam goalie Khaleed Devji blocking 37 shots.
