Inopportune penalties contributed to the end of the Prince George Spruce Kings' four-game win streak Friday.
The Kings picked up six minors, three majors and had three players tossed from the BCHL game at The Coliseum as the Merritt Centennials skated out of town with a 3-2 win. The loss leaves the Kings (11-9-1-2) five points in arrears of the Centennials (12-6-1-5) for second place in the Interior Conference.
Trailing 3-1 late in the game, Chase Golightly's point shot beat Centennials' goaltender Tyler Steel to guarantee an exciting finish, but the Kings were unable to pick up the equalizer in front of the 742 fans.
Despite the loss, the Kings are still tied for fourth place with the Chilliwack Chiefs (12-8-0-1) who fell 5-4 to the Penticton Vees (20-3-0-2) Friday, while the third-place Vernon Vipers (13-9-1) lost 3-2 in overtime to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
Paul De Jersey cut the Centennials lead in half midway through the second period when he waited for Centennials' goaltender Tyler Steel to commit before firing the puck from the hash mark to pull the home side within a goal at 2-1. The goal was De Jersey's 22nd goal and 41st point of the season.
But after the Kings were unable to draw even with an early third-period power play the Centennials restored their two-goal cushion on defenceman Reece Wilcox's third goal of the season.
De Jersey and defenceman Ben Woodley both left the game in the third period with game misconducts.
A pair of goals from Silvan Harper, the first on a power play, had the Centennials on top 2-0 after the first period. The Fitzgerald triplets - Gerry, Myles and Leo - had a lot of energy and created several opportunities for the Kings when they took to the ice in the opening period.
Early in the second, the line was split up when Myles received a five-minute major and game misconduct for elbowing, leaving the Spruce Kings with 10 forwards.
Prince George was without injured forwards Sean Landrey and Michael Klonarakis.
The Interior Conference foes face off again tonight in Merritt for the second half of the home-and-home series.
The Kings next game at The Coliseum is Wednesday when the Chilliwack Chiefs visit for the first time since relocating from Quesnel. Game time is 7 p.m.
I
