An exhausted Chilliwack Chiefs squad got blitzed in game one of their second round BCHL series Friday night, losing 4-0 to a relatively well-rested Surrey Eagles squad.
Two nights after eliminating the Prince George Cougars in a grueling five-games-in-six nights series, the Chiefs came out flat against Surrey.
The Eagles jumped all over the Chiefs in period one, opening up a 4-0 lead through 20 minutes.
For the third game in a row, Chilliwack surrendered a goal within the first two minutes. On the first shot of the game just 46 ticks in, Brady Shaw finished off a two-on-one rush, rifling a Michael Stenerson pass past Chiefs keeper Mitch Gillam.
The Eagles struck again at 3:19 on a goal by Demico Hannoun, who beat Gillam through a screen from the right faceoff circle.
The third Surrey goal is one Gillam would definitely want back.
Trevor Cameron swooped down the left wing and beat the goalie through the five hole to put the Eagles up 3-0.
Gillam couldn’t do anything on the fourth Eagle goal, scoring in the final minute of the opening frame. Hannoun sniped his second of the game on a three-on-one rush, finishing off a pretty passing play with linemates Shaw and Adam Tambellini.
That’s all Surrey got and all they needed.
Chilliwack kept the Eagles off the board for the rest of the game, but they couldn’t put one in the other net.
If they thought Prince George netminder Kirk Thompson was a daunting foe, they might find Michael Santaguida to be an even bigger headache. Chilliwack put plenty of pucks on net, firing 35 shots in total.
But the Mississauga native stopped them all.
To be fair, he didn’t face many blue chip chances, with the Chiefs attackers kept mostly to the outside. Chilliwack gunners hit Santaguida’s crest with too many shots. Still, if they’re going anywhere in this series, they’ll have to figure him out.
They’ll also have to tighten up their discipline.
The Chiefs handed the Eagles seven power play opportunities, including a lengthy five-on-three, way too much against a high powered squad.
Two things to think about heading into game two, tomorrow night at 7:15 p.m. in Surrey.
