The Surrey Eagles might not make the B.C. Hockey League playoffs and that's a difficult feat considering 16 of the league's 17 teams do advance to the postseason dance.
With only a month remaining in the season, the Eagles are dead-last in the BCHL, nine points behind Cowichan Valley for that final playoff spot.
Tonight and Saturday at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena the Eagles will try upset the balance of power while taking on the Prince George Spruce Kings in a two-game set.
Although the Spruce Kings are 40 points ahead of Surrey in the standings, Kings head coach Adam Maglio is quick to remind his troops that two of the Eagles' 10 victories in 2018-19 have come at the expense of the Spruce Kings. They beat them 3-2 in Surrey Sept. 28 and posted a 2-1 decision in the second game of a weekend doubleheader at RMCA on Dec. 15. Combined with the Kings' 2-1 win at home Dec. 14 and a 3-0 triumph Dec. 21 in Surrey, that makes it an even split in the season series with the rubber matches decided this weekend.
The Spruce Kings (27-12-1-5, second in the Mainland Division) have slipped seven points behind the Mainland Division-leading Chilliwack Chiefs for first overall in the BCHL and need a weekend sweep of the last-overall Eagles (10-34-2-2) to try to make up lost ground on the Chiefs.
"Surrey's going to be a big test for us, even though where they are in the standings," said Maglio.
"The last time up here they took one from us so we have to be ready. Every game to the end is going to be important for standings for us."
After this weekend the Spruce Kings will have nine games left, six on the road and three at home. Three of their remaining games are against Chilliwack.
Game time tonight is 7 p.m.
