Spruce Kings Heavily Outshoot Eagles, Fall 6-4 In Final Meeting

(Ben Brar had a goal in both games against Surrey this past weekend, Photo by: Garrett James Photography)

 

Coming in with points in all six of their previous games against the Surrey Eagles, the Spruce Kings were looking to keep that alive in the seventh and final meeting. At home, the Surrey Eagles had their lone win of the season against Prince George in overtime, and were able to score early and stay ahead of their opposition during the game eventually coming away with a 6-4 decision. Prince George outshot the Eagles 41-28 in the final match.

Following a tough 6-2 loss the night before, the Surrey Eagles got off to a great start scoring the first goal of the game 47 seconds into the game. On a two-on-one, Jeffrey Stewart kept and fired the puck, putting it in off the left post and into the goal.

Ending a 28 game goal drought two minutes later was Connor Russell as he called for the puck, and Jarod Hovde spotted him across the ice. Russell came in from the left circle, and beat Keelan Williams who allowed just one goal on 18 shots in the first period.

On a late power play, the Eagles would regain their lead as Nick Fea centred the puck for Ty Westgard who was alone in the left faceoff circle with the Spruce Kings killing off a five-on-three. A one-timer into the back of the net, and it was 2-1.

In the second, the two teams exchanged a pair of goals. The Eagles were able to capitalize early again as Westgard spotted Ashton Calder in front of the net, and with plenty of time and space in front was able to put Surrey up 3-1 at 1:39.

Prince George would reply right before the media timeout as Jarod Hovde was able to slip a shot inside the left post making it 3-2. Darius Davidson replied for Surrey just 20 seconds later though, putting the Eagles up by two with 9:24 on the clock.

Former Spruce King Adam Brubacher led the BCHL in goals last season with 18, and Tyler Anderson equalled that total at 12:21 beating Williams with a wrist shot to the left side of the net.

The Eagles took too late penalties, and Prince George were able to begin the third with 1:10 of five-on-three. Tying the game 36 seconds in was Ben Brar scoring his 17^th goal in his 30^th game with the team.

Prince George got into penalty trouble after that goal though, taking two consecutive trips to the box. The team was able to kill off both, but would eventually break before the halfway mark of the period. Jeffrey Stewart took a feed from Ty Westgard, and buried his second goal of the game to give Surrey the lead once again. Aris Anagnostopoulos would be pulled late, but Prince George was unable to tie the game and Ashton Calder sent a puck into the empty net to give Surrey the 6-4 final.

The win pulled Surrey six points behind Salmon Arm for the final playoff spot available for the Eagles as they can crossover into the Interior Division as the final seed. Salmon Arm has six games remaining, and needs three points to clinch the final spot in the Interior. With the loss, Prince George sealed their fate at fourth in the Mainland. Five games left in the season don’t give them enough space to catch Langley who are 12 points ahead.