Spruce Kings losing streak extends to four after dropping close shave to Surrey

Catch up hockey is often known as losing hockey.

Unfortunately, the Prince George Spruce Kings found that out the hard way on Friday night dropping a 5-4 decision to the Surrey Eagles in front of 681 fans at the Kopar Memorial Arena – their fourth consecutive loss.

Once again, the alarm clocks of the PG players were on snooze as they found themselves in an early 2-0 hole at the end of the first period.

A massive double-crunch check in front the PG bench initiated a 2-on-1 rush where former Spruce King Jagjeevan Phangura slid over a pass to Jackson Anderson who beat an outstretched Carter Wishart.

Anderson lit the lamp again – this time at the 16:40 mark as a fanned pass by Sihwan Kim found its way to the Eagles blueliner who let a shot go that went under the leg and blocker of Wishart, doubling the lead.

After waking up from their first period nap, the Spruce Kings found their offensive mojo.

Newly-acquired forward Ethan Montroy slid into the middle of the Eagles slot and fired the puck past a screened Jaiden Sharma. Tampa product Skogen Schrott set up the marker but the initial play started inside the Eagles blueliner where Eric Sollied kept the puck in to extend the pressure.

With his parents in the stands all the way from Florida, Schrott then collected his first of the season on the power-play rifling a one-timer past Sharma to even the score at 2-2.

Less than five minutes later, Phangura found the back of the net against his old team tapping home a loose puck along the blue paint past an out-stretched Wishart. The goal underwent a lengthy review examining whether or not the puck was intentionally played by the hand of Dean Toskos.

Official Bronson Tazelaar said no dice and Surrey was back in the driver’s seat.

The back and forth play continued towards the intermission as Kazumo Saskai sliced his way into the Eagles zone, pouncing on a Linden Makow pass and a backhanded shot beat the glove of Sharma making it a 3-3 game.

Defensive miscues would once again be the undoing of the Spruce Kings in the third period.

While on a break-out, Sollied lost his balance and the puck inside the defensive zone springing Massimo Fazio on a breakaway who beat Wishart.

Lucas Veilleux brought PG up off the mat at 7:11 of the frame to bring back to a tie for the third time.

However, it would be Surrey who would have the last laugh as Ryan Evenhuis got the inside track on Spruce Kings centre Brock Cummings, beating him the puck and collecting the game-winner with two minutes remaining.

Surrey (3-3) outshot PG 34-29 overall – the Spruce Kings (2-4) went 1-for-3 on the power-play while the Eagles were 0-for-5.

Both teams conclude the weekend double header tonight (Saturday) at 6pm from the Kopar Memorial Arena.