Super eight.
With three games in hand and the Chilliwack Chiefs off until Monday, the Prince George Spruce Kings wasted little time picking apart the opposition.
This time the victim turned out to be the Langley Rivermen who were stomped on to the tune of an 8-1 score in front 1,137 fans at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena on Friday.
Prince George played like a team on a mission putting up consecutive four-goal periods against Langley and ripping part goaltender Braedon Fleming and Alex Rolfe who gave up a combined eight goals on 38 shots.
Dustin Manz led the offensive charge with a fantastic hat-trick performance playing alongside Patrick Cozzi and Ben Brar who also had three-point games.
The chemistry between the trio has been nothing short of sensational since being put back together by Head Coach Adam Maglio.
“We were together for a little bit last year in the playoffs and the chemistry just seems to be there and since we got back together we’ve been finding eachother all over the ice. It’s been really good.”
The veteran-laden team of the Spruce Kings pounded the Rivermen into submission all game long outshooting them 38-23 who also received a pair of goals from Cozzi, Nick Poisson as well as the first career BCHL marker for rookie forward Tyler Schleppe.
Manz believes the blowout victory turned out to be a good things for the team since they were playing in a lot of tight contests for most of the season.
“We’ve been trying to pack our leads more and we’ve had a lot of close games, we know we need to score a little more so tonight was a good time to do it.”
Prince George improves to 15-6-0-1 on the season, three points back of the idle Chiefs for top spot in the Mainland Division.
Logan Neaton made 22 saves for the win in the Spruce Kings crease.
The Coquitlam Express continue to nip at the heels of both the Spruce Kings and Chilliwack after winning 2-1 in a shootout over the Trail Smoke Eaters on Friday.
Six Spruce Kings players had at least two points or more on the scoresheet.
Local product Corey Cunningham didn’t play due to a concussion sustained after blocking a shot off the head against the Penticton Vees last Saturday. Forward Sean Donaldson is expected to return to the lineup for the second half of the Rivermen double-header.
Prince George hosts Langley again tonight at 7 PM from the RMCA.