Eight goals the other way is enough to take the pressure off a hockey goaltender but until the final whistle blew Thursday night at the Coliseum there was no relief in sight for Prince George Spruce Kings goaltender Jesse Jenks.
On a night when goals came in bunches, Jenks was the difference-maker for the Kings, making 38 saves in an 8-3 victory over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Marco Ballarin and Michael Buonincontri led the way for Prince George with two goals each.
Frustrated by a losing streak that stretched to six games, the Spruce Kings wasted no time taking out their aggression on the Silverbacks’ defence and scored five unanswered goals in the first period.
The win improved the Kings’ third-place BCHL Interior Division record to 19-19-0-4, while the Silverbacks, fifth in the Interior, dropped to 17-15-3-5.
“They played well as a group and no doubt Jesse was a big part of it,” said Spruce Kings general manager Mike Hawes. “We’ve been struggling lately and this is the type of game we needed for sure. I’ve always thought this group had some forward depth and it’s nice to see it shining through tonight.”Buonincontri got the Kings started five minutes in and Ballarin followed up with a rebound a minute later, which resulted in starting goalie Zach Dyment getting the yank to the bench. His replacement, Angus Redmond, was unable to stop the bleeding. But it wasn't his fault when Spruce Kings sniper Chad Staley got the puck just off the post and spun a backhand pass right onto the stick of his left winger, Buonincontri, who had plenty of net showing for an easy tap-in.
Kings defenceman Adam Clements made it 4-0 while killing penalty. He outskated Silvertips pointman Carson Bolduc, a former Prince George Cougar, and went wide across the crease on Redmond. Braiden Epp increased the gap to five with 12:54 gone, taking a pass in the slot off an end-zone feed from Jake LeBrun. Epp's shot had just enough firepower to squeeze through Redmond's legs.
The Silverbacks, who stung the Kings a week ago with a last-second goal in a 4-3 win in Salmon Arm, wiped the slate clean in the second period and stormed back with a pair of goals to make it interesting. Bolduc put on a burst of speed and slid a backhand shot in low at the 4:44 mark and Braiden Marsh batted one out of the air to cut the lead to 5-2.
Taylor Marsh snuck a wrist shot past Jenks to start the third period but the Kings responded with a pair of goals to restore a four-goal lead. But before that there were some tense moments and Jenks held the Kings in until their offence reawakened. His big pad save robbed Joshua Lafromboise on a one-timer after Nick Hutchinson stole the puck midway through the period provided a huge lift.
Viktor Dombrovskiy cashed in a Kings power play and Ballarin collected his second of night and fifth this season, taking advantage of the lively Coliseum boards to bat in the rebound after a wide shot from defenceman Cole McCaskill. Alex Stoley capped the scoring on a Kings' power play.
LOOSE PUCKS: Steven Jandric made his first Coliseum appearance in a Silverbacks uniform playing left wing on a line with Northeastern recruit Hitchinson and Laframboise, a Minnesota-Duluth NCAA prospect. Jandric, 17, who plays for his hometown Cariboo Cougars major midgets, drew third-line duty and created a few quality chances with his junior teammates... The Kings host the Victoria Grizzlies on Saturday and the Coquitlam Express Sunday afternoon.
