Cross-Town October Showdown
Tonight, the Surrey Eagles (5-9-0-1) look to build on their first win in October against their B.C Hockey League cross-town rivals, the Langley Rivermen (7-8-0-0). Both of these teams are coming off big wins last night, as the Eagles took down the Powell River Kings by a score of 5-3, while the Rivermen stifled the Coquitlam Express in their 2-0 win. Both of these teams are also playing their 2nd game in 2 nights, which could mean an interesting affair from the George Preston Arena tonight.
The Eagles are going to turn to Thomas Scarfone between the pipes tonight. After Cal Schell stood tall in the Eagles win last night, Scarfone will look to do more of the same and get his first win since September 28 against this Rivermen team. You can check out our full lineup on our social media channels later today.
Who To Watch Out For
Both of these teams are coming off big wins, and tonight will be no different as the Eagles and Rivermen look to make it 2 in a row. The Eagles lead the season series 2-1, and the last game these 2 teams played was a lopsided affair. However, this Rivermen team has turned their season around since then, and will look to exact some revenge against their cross-town foes. Here are tonight’s players to watch for both teams.
Surrey Eagles: Hudson Schandor
It’s not every day a player scores a hat-trick in the BCHL, but Schandor did just that last night in the win over the Kings. Schandor’s 3 goals brought his season tally up to 7 goals, and 12 points. Schandor’s presence on and off the ice has been a big reason why the Eagles have held their heads high during a time of adversity, and his electric play will be a big reason the Eagles turn their season around.
Langley Rivermen: Brendan Budy
One of the biggest reasons the Rivermen have turned their season around is due to the emergence of Budy as a top player in the BCHL. Budy has 5 goals, and 13 points in Langley’s 7 October games this season, and has been the straw that stirs the drink for the Rivermen. Always a tough task for any team, and he’ll be the Eagles problem tonight.
3 Keys To The Game
The Eagles finally won a game in October, but this team has their sights set on a lot more than just a middle of the season win at home. The Eagles played well in their win over Powell River, but Langley is going to provide a much tougher test, especially in their barn. Here are tonight’s 3 keys to the game.
– Discipline: One of the only negatives from last night’s game was the fact the Eagles were short-handed 8 different times in their win over Powell River. While they killed off 7 of those penalties, they gave the Kings a ton of momentum throughout the game. The Eagles need to stay disciplined when they have the lead in order to close out games more efficiently.
– More shots: While the Eagles were able to score 5 on Powell River on just 26 shots, they’re going to need to continue to pepper opposing goaltenders with more frequency. Getting traffic in front and banging in rebounds will be key for this Eagles team to take the next step, and they need to build on the momentum gained from last night.
– Don’t let up: The Eagles soared to an early 2-0 lead against the Kings, but started to relent a little bit in the 2nd and 3rd periods of their win. If the boys want to continue riding this momentum and start a winning streak of their own, they’re going to need to keep the pedal to the metal and stay aggressive. The more the boys can pour it on early, the results will continue to follow.
Summary
The Eagles can expect a tight game against a rejuvenated Rivermen team tonight at the George Preston Arena. Both teams are looking for their 2nd win in a row, and both are playing their 2nd game in 2 nights. If the Eagles can stay disciplined, continue to pour on the shots and not relent if they get ahead, then they’ll be in a much better spot to win their 2nd in a row.
Can’t make the game tonight in Langley? Don’t worry, you can catch the broadcast on HockeyTV and Mixlr tonight, starting at 7:05pm. Puck drop from the George Preston Arena will be at 7:15pm.
