Callum Volpe doubled his season scoring tally in a single game, leading the Kings with a pair of first period goals however it wasn’t enough as the Eagles put on a season-high 8 goals on the Kings in an 8-4 win on Friday night at the South Surrey Arena.
The Kings and Eagles got underway a little late as the Eagles pushed the start time back 10 minutes to allow for late-arriving fans a chance to get to their seats in time for the teddy bear toss goal. They didn’t have to wait long as John Wesley scored his league-leading 28th of the season just 27 seconds in for a 1-0 lead. The Eagles would double that up on the very next shot to lead 2-0 through 54 seconds.
Midway through the period the Kings got on the board as 15 year old affiliate Cam MacDonald took a hit and made a nice chip at the same time up to Callum Volpe who skated from the Kings zone down right wing to wrist home his 3rd of the season and a 2-1 scoreline. Surrey would restore the two goal advantage less than 2 minutes later through Desi Burgart on the game’s first powerplay and the Eagles took a 3-1 lead.
2 minutes later, the Kings would go to their first powerplay and Volpe would again convert, his fourth of the season wiring home a slapshot and a 3-2 scoreline through 20. Shots 17-16 Surrey.
Into the 2nd and the Eagles again built a 3-goal lead through Aaron White and Desi Burgart to take a 5-2 advantage before Hunter Findlater scored his 9th of the season on a great shot low in the zone and a 5-3 game through 40. Shots in the frame 17-13 Powell River, two period totals 33-30 Powell River.
The third period saw emotions begin to creep into the game. Mitch Williams and John Wesley dropped the glove after Wesley took a run at Ben Raffler before Surrey put the game beyond reach with a trio of goals to get out to an 8-3 lead. Carmine Buono scored a soft one midway through the period to round out the scoring, 8-4 for the Eagles. Final shots on goal were 47-45 Powell River.
The loss sets a new season high in goals allowed with 8, and ties a season high in shots against with 45. The Kings fall to 18-10-2-2 and are currently on a 3-game losing skid. With wins from Nanaimo and Victoria on Friday night, the Kings now share the lead in the Island Division with Victoria, and are just 1 up on Nanaimo.
The Kings final road trip before Christmas continues in Coquitlam Saturday, a 7:00pm start against the Express.
