For the first time in February the Prince George Spruce Kings experienced a loss.
The Nanaimo Clippers scored two goals in the third period to snap the Kings' six-game win streak Saturday skating away with a 3-2 win in front of a sellout crowd of 2,112 fans at the Prince George Coliseum in the only meeting of the season between the inter-conference British Columbia Hockey League rivals.
Kyle Kramer tied the game for the Clippers (23-20-0-9) during four-on-four action and Mason Blacklock potted the winner on a nice feed from Brenden Forbes seconds after Kings' leading scorer Paul De Jersey was unable to get the puck past Clippers goaltender Billy Faust.
The loss leaves the Kings with a 28-18-2-4 record and in third place in the Interior Conference. At press time the second-place Merritt Centennials held a 4-2 lead over the Chilliwack Chiefs. If the Centennials (28-17-2-5) hold onto the lead they'll go three points up on the Kings.
Faust played well in the Clippers' net facing 37 shots, but the Kings had several opportunities but were unable to put their Island visitors away.
Kirk Thompson made 28 saves in the Prince George net but saw his record fall to 14-13-1.
Jarryd Ten Vaanholt gave the Kings a 2-1 advantage after the first period when he stole the puck from a Clippers' player and tucked it behind Billy Faust in the Nanaimo net. Leo Fitzgerald gave the home side a 1-0 lead when he skated in from the corner and flipped the puck past Faust. Brenden Forbes' one-timer beat Prince George goaltender Kirk Thompson to tie the game less than two before Ten Vaanholt's 26th of the season restored the lead.
Royal musings: Prince George was once again without defencemen Cody Bardock (shoulder) and Latrell Charlieson (unknown) on Saturday. The Kings head out on the road for the next two weekends for three-game sets before wrapping up the regular season at the Castle against the Canadian Junior Hockey League's top-rated team, the Penticton Vees for a pair of games March 9 and 10.
BCHL summary
Nanaimo Clippers 3 Prince George Spruce Kings 2
First period:
1. Prince George Leo Fitzgerald 13 (G. Fitzgerald, Woodley) 5:22
2. Nanaimo Brenden Forbes 9 (Neher, Sones) 12:50
3. Prince George Jarryd Ten Vaanholt 26 14:13
Penalties: Kramer NAM (check to head; 10-minute misconduct, minor served by Mike Sones) 1:21; Betz PG (charging) 6:32.
Second period:
No scoring.
Penalties: Bryan NAM (holding) 1:08; De Jersey PG (slashing) 6:12; Pacheco PG (interference)13:09; Kramer NAM (interference), Matthews PG (hooking) 14:00; Bench Minor PG (too many men, served by Skylar Pacheco) 15:30; Iacono NAM (slashing, roughing after whistle second minor served by Mason Blacklock), Esau PG (cross checking) 16:09; M. Fitzgerald PG (tripping) 19:01.
Third period:
4. Nanaimo Kyle Kramer 28 (McCormack) 9:47
5. Nanaimo Mason Blacklock 3 (Forbes) 11:45
Penalties: Wells NAM (check to head, 10-minute misconduct, minor served by Mason Blacklock) 8:10; Kharia PG (holding the stick) 8:36; Iacono NAM (holding) 13:33; Phillips NAM, De Jersey PG (roughing) 15:53.
Shots:
Nanaimo 10 11 10 31
Prince George 11 10 16 37
Goaltenders: Nanaimo Billy Faust (W 21-21-0); Prince George Kirk Thompson (L 14-13-1)
Power plays: Nanaimo 0/6 Prince George 0/5
Attendance: 2,112
