Talk about too close for comfort.
A three-goal third period surge by the Prince George Spruce Kings propelled them to 5-3 victory over the Chilliwack Chiefs who travelled up to the Northern Capital with eight affiliate players after clinching the BCHL’s Mainland Division crown last week.
It was the Spruce Kings seventh straight home victory before 1,571 fans on Fan Appreciation Night.
The Spruce Kings jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to Lucas Vanroboys and Ben Brar who found the back of the net against Chiefs netminder Nolan Hildebrand.
After outshooting Chilliwack 14-5 in the opening frame, the Spruce Kings thought it was a good idea to take their foot off the gas against the Chiefs but that proved costly as Jaques Bouquot and Cade Cavallini beat Prince George goalie Logan Neaton to even the score.
.@SpruceKings blueliner Dylan Anhorn after third period comeback victory over @Chiefs_Hockey on Friday winning 5-3 #CityofPG #sports @GoBCHL pic.twitter.com/pq7Pzz2Q3W
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) February 23, 2019
In the third, Ben Poisson put the Spruce Kings into overdrive scoring the first of three unanswered goals to pull away from the youthful Chiefs who were outshot 47-14 in the game.
“Obviously, Chilliwack is not a team we like and being down 3-2 in front of a good crowd on a Friday night, we wanted to win that one and we started to play the way we were capable of and it started working out for us,” said Poisson.
Brar scored his second of the game on a delayed Chilliwack penalty while Dylan Anhorn lit the lamp with 27 seconds remaining.
In a game where one team had the experience and talent advantage on paper over a much younger squad, some complacency crept in for Prince George, something that will need to be corrected come playoff time.
“That’s a different team than we’re used to playing so we got up two nothing and some guys wanted more points but we found a way to get through it.”
“Obviously, we want come into the playoffs on a roll and we want to come in and get the two points tomorrow so we can feel good going into the playoffs.” Poisson said.
.@SpruceKings captain Ben Poisson speaks with @mypgnow post game after 5-3 win over @Chiefs_Hockey @GoBCHL #CityofPG #sports #GoBCHL pic.twitter.com/xEiGaGA8Du
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) February 23, 2019
Speaking of the playoffs, the Spruce Kings now know they are going to play against the Coquitlam Express in round one which begins next Friday and Saturday from the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
On the positive side for the Chiefs, Friday’s contest provided a bit of a homecoming for a pair of local products.
17-year-old defenceman and former Cariboo Cougar Colton Kitchen played in front of 30 friends and family and scored a third period goal to put the Chiefs briefly ahead 3-2.
Kitchen caught up with My PG Now on the late-season return to the northern capital as well as playing alongside Matthew Marrota, who also suited up for Chilliwack as an affiliate player.
“It’s good to score in front of the hometown crowd but we couldn’t pull it out for the boys, it was a tough one at the end because they got a couple quick ones right after my goal.”
“It’s great playing with Marrota again, it brought back some old memories of when we used to play together growing up.”
.@Chiefs_Hockey defenceman and former @cariboocougars @coltonkitchen45 on 5-3 loss against @SpruceKings on Friday spoiling part 1 of a homecoming for the #PrinceGeorge product @GoBCHL #CityofPG #Sports pic.twitter.com/WS0kTeBTDv
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) February 23, 2019
The Spruce Kings improve to 38-13-1-5 and finish off the regular season against the Chiefs tonight (Saturday) at 7:00 from the RMCA.
Chilliwack drops to 42-14-1-0 and will face the Langley Rivermen in the first round of the BCHL playoffs.
The Chiefs left their top five scorers at home in Skyler Brind’Amour, Matt Holmes, Kevin Wall, Harrison Blaisdell and Cole Donhauser.
Mitch Andres, Marcus Tesink and Matheiu Caron also didn’t dress as well as head coach and general manager Brian Maloney who was on a scouting trip in Alberta.