Updated Sunday at 8:00 PM and again this morning (Monday) at 10 AM
The Prince George Spruce Kings will play the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the first round of the BCHL playoffs.
This was confirmed after Salmon Arm lost 4-2 to the Penticton Vees tonight (Sunday).
Apr. 1 Prince George – Salmon Arm – Shaw Centre 6:00 pm PDT
Apr. 4 Salmon Arm – Prince George – Kopar Memorial Arena 7:00 pm PDT
Apr. 5 Salmon Arm – Prince George – Kopar Memorial Arena 7:00 pm PDT
Apr. 7 Prince George – Salmon Arm – Shaw Centre 6:00 pm PDTÂ (If needed)
Apr. 9 Salmon Arm – Prince George – Kopar Memorial Arena 2:00 pm PDT (If needed)
Apr. 11 Prince George – Salmon Arm – Shaw Centre 6:00 pm PDT (If needed)
The Spruce Kings fell to the Cranbrook Bucks 4-3 in overtime Saturday.
While 3-out-of-4 points off the division’s number 2 team would be considered a huge success any other weekend, the result left them one point out of home-ice advantage.
Prince George won the Friday game 4-3.
Noah Quinn completed the Bucks’ comeback at 2:36 of overtime.
Nick Peluso tied the game for Cranbrook with just 1:14 left in the third period.
The Spruce Kings got off to a hot start, leading 2-0 just 1:33 into the game thanks to goals from John Herrington and Ben LeFranc.
Cranbrook stormed back in the second period with two quick goals of their own, at 16:03 and 17:39.
Ty Gagno gave the Kings the lead at 14:10 of the third period, which set the stage for the Bucks to play spoiler and complete the late comeback to send 2,500 fans home happy.
Both teams were 0/2 on the powerplay, and Cranbrook outshot Prince George 43-31.
The (28-20-6) West Kelowna Warriors, who won 4-3 in a shootout Saturday over Salmon Arm, ended up third just one point ahead of both (27-20-4-3) Salmon Arm and (27-20-6-1) Prince George.
The BCHL final regular season standings are right here.
With files by Hartley Miller