Slow start grounds Eagles in loss to Grizzlies
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Updated: November 30, 2009 3:36 PM
It took 40 minutes for the Surrey Eagles to take flight Saturday night, but by then it was too little, too late, as the Birds fell 4-3 on the road to the Victoria Grizzlies.
The Eagles gave up three first-period goals and trailed 4-2 after two periods, before mounting an attack in the third. In the final frame, Surrey outshot the Grizz 19-8, but Michael Krgovich was the only Eagle to find the back of the net – scoring on the power play.
Grant Toulmin and Andrew Wallace – also with the man-advantage – scored for Surrey, while Jordan Heywood potted a pair for Victoria.
"We just didn't really play a full 60 minutes," said Eagles head coach Shane Kuss.
"We dominated the third period, but it was too late. We waited too long to decide to play."
Wallace figured into all three Surrey goals, and Toulmin finished with two points. Adam Basford, who joined the team two weeks ago, also added an assist, and now has eight points in just six games since returning from the Western Hockey League.
The game was Surrey's only contest of the weekend, and came on the heels of a 5-1 home-ice win Wednesday over the Coastal Conference rival Burnaby Express.
The Eagles scored three power-play goals in the win, and led 3-0 after two periods on two goals from Jason Grecica and one from Basford. Basford added another in the third, as did Toulmin to ice the win for the home side. Wallace chipped in with three assists.
"We played a complete game in that one... just a good 60-minute game," Kuss said.
"We're going to need to play more like that – and more like we did in the third (against Victoria) if we want to keep going here."
The Eagles still sit first in the conference with a 20-9-0-3 record, but they now have just a two-point cushion on the hard-charging Alberni Valley Bulldogs, who have won eight of the last 10 games.
The team now embarks on a three game weekend road trip to Nanaimo, Victoria and Powell River.
"All three teams are right on our heels, so we have to come ready to play," said Kuss.
