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The Surrey Eagles are back at it again tonight after winning their first game of the season in a thriller last night against the Prince George Spruce Kings. The boys will come into this game feeling pretty good about themselves after spoiling Prince George’s banner night and home opener, but it doesn’t get any easier as they’ll look to win their 2nd and final game on their first road trip of the year. 

Just a goaltending swap tonight as far as lineup changes are concerned. It’ll be Cal Schell starting after Thomas Scarfone played the night before. No changes up front, as there were 8 different goal scorers in their first win of the season, and they’ll need to stick with that formula tonight. The full lineup is down below.

Who To Watch Out For

For Surrey, the win last night was the turn of the page the organization hoped for. After a year in which they only won 13 games, they’re looking for their 2nd win in as many nights. There’s a lot of talent on this year’s squad, and they’re well coached. It’s a dangerous recipe for the rest of the league, but they’re going to have to keep their momentum going themselves, and not take anything for granted.

Prince George on the other hand is looking for redemption. After their home opener was spoiled, they’ll be looking to lay a beatdown on the road team and have the weapons to do so. While only 3 players got on the scoresheet in their loss, they’ll look for a more spread out attack from their depth, while leaning on the guys who got them close to a point. 

As these teams get set for their rematch tonight, here’s a key player to watch for both teams.

Surrey Eagles: Cristophe Tellier

The native of Sherbrooke, Quebec was 1 of 8 players to record a point last night, finishing with a goal and an assist to pace the scoring. He’s a dynamic, offensively inclined player who’ll look to lead by example for his younger teammates. Tellier finished last year 11th in Wenatchee Wild scoring with 10-20-30 in 53 games, but has been given a larger role here in Surrey. He’s earned a lot of praise from his teammates, and should be the focus for Eagles fans tonight.

Prince George: Finlay Williams

It’s not everyday where you look at a BCHL lineup and see a 16 year old 1st line center. That’s what Prince George has, and he will be a factor every time he steps on the ice. The young center with a commitment to Michigan University for the 2021-2022 season scored 2 powerplay goals for Prince George last night, and looks to pace the Spruce Kings scoring again tonight. He appeared in 12 BCHL games last year as a 15 year old, and scored 1 goal in 8 playoff games as the Spruce Kings won their Fred Page Cup. Expect him to come out engaged and hungry to help his team rebound from their loss.

3 Keys To The Game

While Surrey’s win is a confidence booster in the overall scheme of things, the Eagles will need to make a couple of adjustments if they want their 2nd win in 2 nights. Below are the team’s 3 keys to the game.

 

• The Eagles are going to have to limit the Spruce Kings powerplay opportunities. The Eagles didn’t give up a goal at even strength last night, but they were burned twice short handed as Prince George’s powerplay looked strong. The boys can make their lives a lot easier if they’re able to stay disciplined in game 2.

 

• Suffocate the Spruce Kings at every turn. The Eagles did a great job at even strength last night, not giving the Spruce Kings any time and space. Nothing needs to change for the Eagles tonight; if the boys can get in on the forecheck, and make sure Prince George doesn’t have time when they’re in the Eagles zone then the Eagles will be successful.

 

• Clear the front of the net. Cal Schell will make his first start for the Eagles tonight, and his style is much different than Tommy Scarfone’s. While Scarfone is a very active goaltender, Schell keeps himself calm and composed in the crease at all times while maintaining strong positioning. If the Eagles can keep the front of the net clear and allow him to see the shots, he’ll make all the stops needed for the Eagles to pick up win number 2.

Summary

While the opponent is the same, the Eagles will need to expect a much hungrier Prince George team as the Spruce Kings will look to avoid being swept at home. If the Eagles can keep up their intensity, and keep themselves out of the box then they’ll be in a good spot to go home with 4 out of a possible 4 points. You can catch tonight’s broadcast on HockeyTV and Mixlr. Cole Marton will have the call from the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena, puck drop is at 7:00 pm.