Home ice has not been kind to the Spruce Kings.
Not that they've had many games this B.C. Hockey League season to take advantage of the comforts of the Coliseum. Ten of their first 15 games were played in hostile territory.
Well the Spruce Kings got what they deserved Friday night in front of 947 witnesses, posting their first win in five tries at home this season, a hard-earned 3-2 victory over the Coquitlam Express.
The Express made it close with 2:57 left in regulation time when Owen Stout banged a rebound in past 17-year-old Kings' goalie Liam McCloskey, who was on top of his game while posting his third win of the season.
The Spruce Kings took control in the second period, outshooting the Express 17-7 and outscoring them 2-0. Collectively, the Spruce Kings have had a hard time this season putting the puck in the net but that hasn't been the case for defenceman Adam Brubacher. The 20-year-old former Elmira Sugar King from Ontario ripped a slap shot into the net for his fifth goal after an offensive zone face-off win from Corey Hoffman. That put the Kings ahead 2-1, 12:52 into the second period.
Brubacher then helped defence partner Adam Burnett get into the scoring act on a two-man Prince George power play. Brubacher fed Burnett the puck at the blueline and his shot found its way into the net through traffic in front of goalie Lawson Fenton.
For his efforts, Brubacher was picked as the game's first star.
The Kings outshot their opponents 37-29.
The teams were tied 1-1 after 20 minutes. Blake Hayward collected his first of the season 18:01 into the game and Cavin Tilsley answered on the second Spruce Kings' power play of the game with 48 seconds left in the period.
The Kings went 3-for-6 with the man advantage, while Prince George penalty killers held Coquitlam scoreless in four opportunities.
Coquitlam had great pressure in the final minute with Fenton on the bench for a sixth skater but couldn't beat McCloskey, who made a game-saving stand-up stop on Express sniper Austin McIlmurray, who ripped a shot while pivoting at point-blank range.
The win improved the Kings' record to 4-10-0-1. They climbed within six points of the Express (6-7-1-2). Coquitlam remains fourth in the Mainland Division.
The same teams meet again in the rematch at the Coliseum tonight. Game time is 7 p.m.
