Nolan Welsh turned out to be a special teams ace for the Prince George Spruce Kings.
The 19-year-old from Whistler led the charge offensively on Monday with a pair of goals, lighting the lamp on the power-play and penalty kill to preserve a 4-2 victory over the Victoria Grizzlies in Game 3 of the BCHL’s Coastal Conference Championship Series.
The Spruce Kings lead 3-0, winning each game 4-2.
The @SpruceKings somehow manage to force a three-on-one while shorthanded, as the goal scoring continues in Victoria. Nolan Welsh makes it 3-1!#BCHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/RqLylxAtof
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) April 2, 2019
Welsh, a former Grizzlie, now has 12 points (3 goals) in as many playoff games for Prince George, after recording 20 points in the regular season.
After a scoreless first period, both teams combined for five goals in the middle frame as Welsh, Layton Ahac, and Lucas Vanroboys all found a way to solve Victoria netminder Kurtis Chapman.
Kyle McGrath and Riley Hughes book-ended the period for the Grizzlies beating Prince George goaltender Logan Neaton who allowed two goals on 29 shots.
As per the first two games of the best-of-seven, the Spruce Kings locked it down tight in the third period only allowing six Grizzly shots.
Prince George outshot Victoria 46-29 while both teams found the back of the net once on the power-play.
The Spruce Kings go for a sweep tonight (Tuesday) at the Q Centre in Victoria.
How many goals does Nolan Welsh have tonight? Make it ✌️@SpruceKings lead it 4-2 early in the third period. #BCHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/1ryCBiaRkj
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) April 2, 2019
The Spruce Kings are 11-1 in the playoffs and haven’t allowed more than two goals (except for an empty netter in their lone loss) in those games.
Prince George has outscored the opposition 48-19 in its 12 playoff games.
The PG/Victoria winner will play either the Wenatchee Wild or Vernon Vipers in the Fred Page Cup Finals.
The Wild and Vipers are tied 1-1 with game three tonight in Vernon.
Another game, another 4-2 win for the Prince George Spruce Kings as they go up 3-0 in their series against the Victoria Grizzlies.
Catch all the game three highlights in tonight’s #BCHLin60! pic.twitter.com/5yxgLFqLtC
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) April 2, 2019
With three goals and an assisst in the first two games against Victoria, Spruce Kings forward Corey Cunningham is the BCHL Player of the Week.
The 17-year-old from Prince George added an assist on Monday to give him five points in the series.
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