It's been easy to write off the Prince George Spruce Kings as potential playoff contestants this season.
They've been the bottom-feeders of the B.C. Hockey League since the season began in September.
Well guess what, they're now only two points out of a playoff spot.
The Spruce Kings shook off an 11-4 hammering Saturday night in Salmon Arm and fired right back into the thick of the playoff race with a 4-1 win Sunday afternoon in Merritt.
Kirk Thompson put up a wall in front of the Kings nets, making 47 saves in Sunday's 4-1 victory over the Merritt Centennials. Dustin Beairsto, Trent Murdoch and Kyle Manlow (into an empty net) were the Prince George triggermen. Evan Stack spoiled Thompson's shutout bid with just 3:03 left on the clock. Kings defenceman Ben Woodley had two assists.
The win left the Spruce Kings (12-36-0-4) two points back of the Quesnel Millionaires (11-33-3-5) for the seventh and final playoff spot in the Interior Conference.
Saturday night in Salmon Arm, the Kings fell behind 3-1 to the Silverbacks after one period and gave up five more in the second and three in the third, leading to their third loss this season in which an opponent scored 10 or more goals.
The Silverbacks outshot the Kings 31-25. Cameron Large played all but 4:13 of the game, giving up seven goals on 19 shots. Thompson allowed four goals on five shots.
Brad Reid scored three times to lead the SIlverbacks, while Bryce Gervais and Paul De Jersey each fired a pair. Prince George midget call-up Sean Landrey, Tye Sanford (a Vernon call-up), Beairsto and Todd Skirving replied for the Kings.
The Spruce Kings and Millionaires each have eight games left, including a head-to-head matchup on Tuesday, Feb. 8 in Quesnel, with similar schedules ahead of them.
The Kings host Nanaimo in their next game this Friday at the Coliseum, then travel to Quesnel, returning home for games against Penticton (twice) and Westside, ending on the road in Merritt, Penticton and Westside.
The Mills play Nanaimo at home on Saturday, then host the Kings, Westside (twice) and Penticton, ending the season with a trip to Westside, Penticton and Vernon.
Since Dave Dupas took over from the fired Ed Dempsey as interim head coach of the Spruce Kings Nov. 25, his record is 6-14-0-2, as compared with Dempsey's 6-22-0-2 mark to start the season. Since the Jan. 10 trade deadline, when the Kings parted company with their top four scorers -- RJay Berra, Nic DeSousa, Justin Fillion and Zac Ashdown -- as well as 20-year-old defenceman Derek Henderson, they've compiled a 2-3-0-2 record.
n Fillion, a Prince George minor hockey graduate, scored the game-winning goal for the Victoria Grizzlies, 1:01 into overtime Saturday, to give the Grizzlies a 3-2 triumph over the visiting Penticton Vees. The Grizzlies lost 7-1 Sunday to the Powell River Kings. Prince George native Michael Garteig made 28 saves in the Powell River nets. Garteig is still looking for his seventh shutout of the season, which would tie Brad Thiessen's BCHL season record.
