Playing on the road, the Surrey Eagles were overwhelmed three times in as many games last weekend.
The BC Hockey League team extended its latest losing streak to five games, falling 5-1 to the Nanaimo Clippers Friday night, 5-2 to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs Saturday in Port Alberni, and 7-2 Sunday afternoon to the Powell River Kings.
The losses also confirmed the inevitable. The 6-36-2 (win-loss-tie) Eagles are now mathematically eliminated from the BC Hockey playoff race, as they are 31 points out of a playoff position with just 14 games to play. This will be the second consecutive season the team has missed postseason play.
Justin Laforest was the busiest Eagle in Nanaimo, as the Eagles netminder was peppered with 54 shots over 60 minutes. He was named the third star of the game, despite conceding five goals.
Surrey directed just 16 shots at the Clippers net, with Donovan Ott netting his 10th of the season in the second period for the only goal for the Eagles, one which briefly cut a Nanaimo lead to 2-1. The Clippers needed just 26 seconds to regain the lead, and led 4-1 after two periods.
Surrey put forward their best effort of the road trip in Port Alberni, twice taking the lead before allowing four unanswered goals in the third period.
Tyler Andrew gave the visitors a 1-0 lead 14 minutes into the game, a lead that lasted just four minutes. Andrew assisted on a goal by Paul McAvoy 15 minutes into the second period, which gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead going into the final 20 minutes.
But midway through the final period, the Bulldogs tallied four times in six minutes to steal the win. Alberni Valley outshot the Eagles 43-30. Laforest was again in the Surrey goal, making 38 saves.
The Eagles again started well – but couldn’t finish strong – against the Kings in Powell River. Jeffrey Stewart notched his seventh of the season with 35 seconds left in the first period for a 1-0 Surrey lead after 20 minutes. Powell River tallied twice in the first half of the second period for a 2-1 lead, but Gage Mackie pulled the Eagles even two minutes later. Andrew assisted on both Eagles goals, giving him four points on the weekend.
Powell River took command of the game with three goal in the last six minutes of the second period, then added two more in the third.
Darius Davidon stopped 29 of 46 shots in the Surrey goal, while his teammates took 21 shots at the Powell River net.
The Eagles are at home Friday night against the Wenatchee Wild at 7 p.m. at the South Surrey Arena, then visit the Chilliwack Chiefs Saturday night before a game at the Langley Evenets Centre Sunday at a 3 p.m. against the Langley Rivermen.
