Eagles and Kings Settle For Tie

For the first time this season, the Surrey Eagles played to a tie, finishing deadlocked 5-5 with the Powell River Kings on Friday evening at the South Surrey Arena. The draw ended the Birds' two game losing streak.

The Kings were the better team in the opening frame, generating a number of scoring chances and out shooting the Eagles 13-4. Despite carrying the majority of the play, Powell River didn't score until late in the period when Matthew Dupont knocked home a one-timer after a cross-crease pass from James Neil, and the Kings took a 1-0 lead into the intermission.

Demico Hannoun pulled the Birds onto even terms less than two minutes into the second period, firing a sharp-angle slap shot from the right boards that snuck past Powell River goalie Jonah Imoo on the short side. The Eagles took the lead a short time later when Mason Blacklock wired a wrister over Imoo's right shoulder off the rush. Stefan Burzan added his name to the score sheet at 7:32, walking into the slot right off a neutral zone face-off and scoring with a shot that beat Imoo cleanly. Moments later, the Kings net minder was pulled in favour of back-up Braeden Ostepchuk. Powell River pulled to within one goal when Jarryd Leung drove to the net and shoveled his own rebound past Michael Santaguida in the Surrey goal, but the Birds bounced back with two more goals from Drew Best and Craig Wyszomirski before the break, giving Surrey a 5-2 lead after 40 minutes.

Prior to the game on Friday, the Eagles were a perfect 11-0 in games where they led after two periods, but that streak came to an end as Powell River rallied to tie the game. The first Kings goal was scored by Jordan Burns on the power play before Evan Richardson and Luke Nogard added even strength markers to force overtime.

The Eagles had a number of high quality scoring chances in the two overtime periods, firing 10 shots on Ostepchuk's net while the Kings only mustered one shot on Santaguida, but neither side could find a winner.

Surrey's power play woes continued as the Birds went 0-for-3 with the man advantage while the Kings were 1-for-3. There were also a pair of fights in the game as Colton Mackie dropped the gloves with Evan Richardson in the second, and Craig Wyszomirski fought Stephen Hiff after the final buzzer, although the big Surrey defenseman was assessed an instigator penalty for the run in. The Kings finished ahead of the Eagles on the shot clock 35-34.

The Birds will play their final game before the holiday break on Sunday, December 16th when the Prince George Spruce Kings visit the South Surrey Arena. Puck drop is at 4:00pm.

Official 3 Stars:
1. Brady Shaw - Surrey
2. Jordan Burns - Powell River
3. Demico Hannoun - Surrey

My 3 Stars:
1. Craig Wyszomirski - Surrey
2. Drew Dorantes - Powell River
3. Mason Blacklock - Surrey