It doesn’t matter how hard the Chilliwack Chiefs try, they still can’t solve the Prince George Spruce Kings.
The RBC Cup host team fell again to the BCHL’s Mainland Division leader by a 2-1 score on Friday.
The Spruce Kings win for the sixth time in seven outings against the Chiefs this season with one head-to-head meeting left.
Ben Brar continued his scoring ways late in the first period potting his 25th season past Chiefs netminder Daniel Chernard for a 1-0 lead.
Chilliwack fought back early in the second courtesy of Will Calverly who beat Spruce Kings netminder Evan DeBrouwer evening the score at one after 40 minutes.
The deadlock remained until late in the third as Dustin Manz proved to be clutch once again for Prince George, netting the winning goal with less than four minutes remaining.
SCORES!
?Dustin Manz (15)
?Liam Watson-Brawn
?Nolan WelshSpruce Kings take a 2-1 lead in the final 4 minutes!
— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) February 24, 2018
The Spruce Kings improve to 31-17-4-4 on the season while the Chiefs fall to 26-25-3-3.
The playoff picture became a little more clear after the conclusion of play on Friday as the Langley Rivermen tied the Coquitlam Express 2-2 while the Surrey Eagles blew a three-goal lead in Nanaimo and fell to the Clippers 4-3 in double overtime.
Prince George plays in Chilliwack again tonight at 7 before concluding the regular season Sunday in Langley.
The Spruce Kings will face Chilliwack or Surrey in the first round of the playoffs starting Friday at the RMCA.
Langley hosts the Merritt Centennials tonight and Surrey plays game two of its island road trip in Duncan against last place Cowichan Valley.
BCHL: (with two days left in the regular season)
MAINLAND DIVISION STANDINGS:
Prince George, 56 games = 31-17-4-4 (70 points)
Langley, 56 games = 24-19-10-3 (61 points)
Surrey, 56 games = 25-22-7-2 (59 points)
Chilliwack, 57 games = 26-25-3-3 (58 points)
Coquitlam, 58 games = 15-38-1-4 (35 points)