Giving up four power play goals cost the Coquitlam Express, as they dropped their third BC Hockey League game in a row, 6-2, to the Surrey Eagles Sunday at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
The odd-man assault started early, when Jeremy Smith took only eight seconds to convert Joshua Wildauer’s absence from the ice because of a tripping penalty into a 1-0 lead less for the Eagles than eight minutes into the first period.
Alex DiPaolo got the Express back on even terms, also on a power play, after seven minutes had been played in the second period. But six seconds after that goal, Coquitlam’s Juliano Santalucia was called for a minor and misconduct for a blow to the head after he drove an Eagles’ player hard into the glass and again the Eagles took advantage to go back in front, 2-1.
Hunter Alden tied with his first goal of the season but with Pito Walton cooling his heels in the penalty box for tripping, Surrey went back in front on a goal by Brandon Santa Juana to take the lead for good.
The Eagles scored three unanswered goals in the third period, one of them into an empty net, to seal just their seventh win of the season. Two of those have come at the expense of the Express, who remain in third place in the Mainland Division with 31 points, five points behind the Prince George Spruce Kings.
Cayden Bailey stopped 37 shots in the Eagles’ net to earn the game’s second star. Kolby Matthews made 23 saves for the Express.
Coquitlam will try to get back into the win column on Tuesday, when they travel to Langley to play the Rivermen at the George Preston Arena.
Their next home game is Friday, when they’ll host the Penticton Vees, 7 p.m., at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
