Game: Powell River Kings vs Surrey Eagles
Arena: South Surrey Arena
Puck Drop: 7:00pm
Broadcast: Starts at 6:40pm
95.7 Coast FM in Powell River
Kings Broadcast Network
FastHockey PPV Video
Kings Record: 22-17-0-2 (3rd Island)
Opposition Record: 6-31-2-0 (6th Mainland)
The Kings have dropped their last 3 games, all on the road last weekend. The Kings lost against Victoria 5-3, Nanaimo 3-2 and Alberni 6-1. It was the first time this season the team has been skunked on a 3-in-3 road trip by failing to get a point.
The Eagles are unbeaten in their last 2 games with a tie (2-2 with Prince George) and a win (9-5 vs Trail) last weekend at home. It marked their first points of 2016.
- New faces in the lineup tonight for the Powell River Kings. Both Adam Brubacher and Brandon Kennedy will make their Powell River debuts. Brubacher will wear number 6, which he wore in Prince George and was vacated by Colton Sandberg’s trade. Kennedy will don #18. Both are welcomed additions to the Kings back end which did not stand up to the test last weekend. It gives the Kings depth as well, not surprisingly on the back end, but also up front as Kennedy joins Rylan Ball as blue liners who have played up front in the past, giving the Kings some versatility.
- Out for the Kings tonight will be Jeff Smith at least. He’s still battling a lower body injury and will miss this evening’s game. Kyle Betts is questionable as he recovers from a minor concussion suffered in Nanaimo on Saturday night…however he did skate with the club mid week as his recovery continues. Question marks for fitness remain over a few Kings including Ball who missed a pair over the weekend with an upper body injury.
- If the Kings are going to get back into the win column, it starts in their own zone. Goaltending and team defence needs to be better and Kent Lewis firmly believes those traits will generate offence. It’s been four straight games now the Kings have conceded multiple goals before getting on the board themselves. It was 2 against Nanaimo at home a couple of Saturday’s ago, then 0-3 vs Victoria, 0-2 vs Nanaimo and 0-5 vs Alberni.
- Take a look at the standings. A 22-17 team going up against 6-31. Easy right? Nope. Surrey might not have the record of other teams, and are sitting last in the league, but no-one knows more than the Kings just how dangerous a club the Eagles can be. Last season, the Kings came into the olympic-sized South Surrey Arena with the Eagles falling in their last 16 games, having won 3 all year. The Kings let 3 leads slip, including a 3-2 advantage with 13 seconds remaining and lost in OT 4-3. Play 60 minutes and let the result happen. Fail to do so and we saw what happened last weekend.
- Even at home last year, the Kings won 8-3, but were down 3-0 in the 1st period. Play a full 60, no matter the opponent.
- Olympic ice tonight in Surrey, it’ll be a lot of skating and a lot of room, particularly in special teams situations
- On Surrey, add goals for and against and you’ll get the fourth highest number in the BCHL. It’s never dull with the Eagles this year both positive and negative. They’ve scored or conceded 6 or more 13 times this season, including a 9-5 win last Sunday against Trail. They’ve also got an 11-8 win over Merritt in November.
The broadcast goes live on 95.7 Coast FM in Powell River at 6:40pm. It will also be online on the Kings Broadcast Network and FastHockey PPV. In the 1st intermission, we’ll have chats with the pair of new Powell River Kings Adam Brubacher and Brandon Kennedy. In the 2nd break, our player profile segment starts back up with new defenceman Adam Brubacher. Brock Sawyer will join us after 60 in the post-game show.
