In the sixth meeting between the Spruce Kings and the Chilliwack Chiefs it was the Kings emerging victorious 5-2 in front of 769 fans with three goals in the final frame.
Paul De Jersey started the third-period barrage, potting his league-leading 34th goal of the season to give the Kings their first lead of the night Thursday. The BCHL scoring leader added his second goal and fourth point of the night on a delayed penalty call late in the game.
The four-points give De Jersey 76 this season. Jarryd Ten Vaanholt also had a goal and two assists in his home debut with the Kings after being acquired at the trade deadline.
Michael Colantone added his 23rd goal and 54th point of the season to seal the win in the final minute.
The win gives the Kings (21-15-2-3) a three-point cushion over the Chiefs (21-16-0-2) in the battle for third place. The Merritt Centennials (25-10-2-5) hold down second place, while the Penticton Vees (35-3-0-2), with a 22-game win streak, are the class of the BCHL and the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
Prince George holds the edge in a tight series with the Chiefs at 3-2-1 with both teams earning an overtime win.
The rematch between the Kings and Chiefs goes tonight at the Prince George Coliseum with the puck drop at 7 p.m. On Sunday the Kings travel to Penticton where they'll attempt to earn a second win over the Vees this season.
The Kings came out strong, buzzing around Chiefs' goaltender Mitch Gillam in the opening minutes, but were unable to convert. A wide-open Jujhar Khaira fired the puck right into Gillam's pads before Leo Fitzgerald missed the open side of the net after taking a pass from Sean Landry on a two-on-one.
With the Kings missing at one end of the ice the Chiefs' Jeremy Gossard gave the visitors a 1-0 advantage when his shot from the top of the circle beat Kings' goalie Kirk Thompson.
But Prince George tied the game at 1-1 when Fitzgerald tipped in his seventh goal of the season on a power play. Ten Vaanholt and De Jersey picked up the assists.
Despite starting the second period with a two-man advantage for 76 seconds the Kings were unable to beat Gillam, generating just one shot during the power play. The Chiefs regained a 2-1 lead on Malcolm Gould's 17th goal of the season.
ROYAL RUMBLINGS: Skylar Pacheco (lower body injury) missed his fourth consecutive game for the Kings, while Gerry and Myles Fitzgerald were also scratched Thursday. The only change to the Chiefs' lineup was Tyler Miller, a
20-year-old defenceman, who was scratched.
