In a battle between the Kings of B.C. Hockey League, it was only fitting it ended in a tie.
The Prince George Spruce Kings, in their first visit of the season to an Island Division opponent, played the Powell River Kings to a 3-3 deadlock Friday night in Powell River.
It was the second tie of the season for the Spruce Kings (7-4-2-2), who pulled even with Langley for first place in the Mainland Division. Powell River (8-3-1-1) remains first in the Island Division.
Evan DeBrouwer turned in one of his best games of the season in goal for the Spruce Kings, making 39 saves. Powell River doubled the Spruce Kings in shots, 42-21, outshooting them 6-3 in 10 minutes of overtime
Ethan de Jong had the best chance to end it for the Spruce Kings with 2:30 left in the second overtime, breaking in on a 2-on-0 breakaway chance with Patrick Cozzi, but Powell River goalie Mitch Adamyk made the save.
Seconds later, DeBrouwer was called upon to make the save on a 2-on-1 break.
The Spruce Kings played the final minute of the game on the power play but could not find the back of the net.
They opened the scoring just 23 seconds into the game when de Jong connecting on his fifth of the season - the only goal of the first period. Chong Min Lee added to the count for Prince George, 5:35 into the second period.
But with 11:12 gone in the second, penalties started to get to the Spruce Kings and that led to a pair of power-play goals from Carter Turnbull. The 19-year-old from Nanaimo scored 11 minutes into the second period and he cashed in a 5-on-3 power-play chance for his eighth goal of the season, 41 seconds into the third period, for a 2-2 tie.
Kyle Johnson gave the Spruce Kings a brief lead while on the power play at 8:59 but Ben Berard, on a Powell River power play, scored from a sharp angle 22 seconds later to make it a 3-3 game.
Powell River finished 3-for-8 on the power play. The Spruce Kings were 1-for-6.
The Spruce Kings move on to Alberni Valley tonight
(7 p.m.) to play the Bulldogs (6-5-1-1), then will travel to Nanaimo for a Sunday afternoon (2 p.m.) date with the Clippers.
