SURREY – The Surrey Eagles continued their better form after beating the Coquitlam Express 4-3 in overtime on Sunday (Oct. 19) at the South Surrey Arena.
Chase McMurphy, captain and the game’s first star, scored the winning goal three minutes and 16 seconds into the extra period, with Joseph Drapluk getting the assist.
Blaine Neufeld, head coach of the Eagles, said the team has been making changes since the team’s tough start to the BCHL season.
“We’ve been working on different things,†he said. “Our transition game was better today and working harder offensively and more as a unit has caused the shot total to come down a bit.â€
Following the win, Neufeld was impressed by what his team showed him on the ice.
“We did a good job establishing what we wanted to do,†the coach said. “Our mentality was to get pucks in deep and go to work.â€
The home team started on the front foot, scoring in the opening two minutes of the game from a Darius Davidson goal, but the Express tied it up in the final 30 seconds of the first period via Daniel Fritz.
However, the game got a little feisty at the buzzer with Surrey’s Brain Drapluk and Coquitlam’s Joey Santucci picking up penalties after the teams exchanged words in front of the benches.
Neufeld said the second period was very similar to the first with the Eagles scoring first.
Ben Vikich scored his fifth goal of the year and put Surrey up 2-1 with 12 minutes left in the period.
With a second remaining in the frame, the Express equalized while on the power play thanks to an unassisted Daniell Lange goal.
The third period saw Coquitlam take the lead for the first time in the game after Brett Supinski scored four minutes after the break. But Joseph Drapluk scored the game-tying goal three later to send the game into overtime.
Surrey has collected nine points from their 11 games this season and is in fourth place in the Mainland Division.
The Eagles will play the Express at home in their next match on Friday (Oct. 24). The puck drops at 7 p.m.
“Whenever you get these back-to-back games, you kind of get to know the other team very quickly. It’s going to be interesting start Friday night,†Neufeld said.
The Eagles' Joseph Drapluk and Darius Davidson were named the second and third stars of the game.
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