Birds Pull Off Comeback Win Over Chiefs

The Surrey Eagles trailed the Chilliwack Chiefs three times but stormed back to win 5-3 at the South Surrey Arena on Friday night. Nic Pierog led the way for the Birds with a goal and two assists while Michael Santaguida made 23 saves to pick up the victory between the pipes.

The Chiefs opened the scoring at 8:36 of the first period, scoring one of the strangest goals you'll ever see. With a delayed penalty call against Chilliwack, Santaguida went to the Surrey bench for an extra attacker, but a weird ricochet saw the puck end up in the Eagles' net. Chiefs goaltender Mitch Gillam was given credit for the goal as he was the last Chilliwack player to touch the puck. Surrey evened the score just over five minutes later when Pierog beat Gillam with a one-timer from the slot after a pass off the half-wall from Trevor Cameron. But before the end of the frame, Chilliwack retook the lead when Trevor Hills knocked the puck past Santaguida with 10 seconds to go before the intermission.

Surrey got an early power play in the second and Michael Stenerson capitalized, netting his ninth of the season to pull the Birds back into a tie. The goal ended a slump for the Eagles who had failed to score on their previous 26 consecutive opportunities with the man advantage. The Chiefs pulled in front again midway through the frame with a power play goal of their own scored by Alexandre Perron-Fontaine.

The third period belonged to the Eagles. Surrey battled back to tie the game for a third time when Jordan Klimek found Colton Mackie with a beautiful cross-crease pass, and Mackie buried his fourth goal of the year. Drew Best would score the eventual game winner with under five minutes remaining, and Demico Hannoun added an empty netter in the final minute to clinch the victory.

The game marked Surrey's first win in the month of December. The Eagles now sit one point behind Prince George for second place in the Mainland Division. Surrey also has two games in hand on the Spruce Kings.

The Birds and Chiefs will get right back at it on Saturday night when the two teams face each other again at the Prospera Centre in Chilliwack. The Chiefs still lead the season series with three wins in five games.

Official 3 Stars:
1. Michael Stenerson - Surrey
2. Colton Mackie - Surrey
3. Luke Esposito - Chilliwack

My 3 Stars:
1. Nic Pierog - Surrey
2. Trevor Hills - Chilliwack
3. Michael Stenerson - Surrey