Call the Prince George Spruce Kings the comeback kids.
The Kings (8-4-1-1) only lead at the Langley Events Centre on Friday came when Mitch Eden found the back of the Langley Rivermen (5-5-0-2) net in overtime to give the visitors a 5-4 victory. Prince George fell behind four times during the game, fighting back to tie the game each time.
It was the fourth meeting of the season between the B.C. Hockey League Mainland division rivals with both teams picking up two wins each - with the Kings wins both coming in overtime.
Justin Rai and Coltyn Hansen had the other goals for the Kings. Rai had a three-point night. The overtime winner was Eden's second goal and 15th point of the season.
"It was a wild day and it's great to go to bed after a win tonight," said Kings assistant coach Brad Rihela.
On their way to Langley the Kings' bus slid off a rain-soaked highway, fortunately there were no injuries but the team needed a tow to get back on the road which took them out of their regular game-day routine.
It was an evenly matched game with both sides getting chances to score on Kings goalie Kirk Thompson or Rivermen netminder James Barr. The Kings held the edge in shots 43-35 including 4-2 in the extra frame.
The Kings capped off the scoring but it was the Rivermen who began.
Matt Ustaski converted a James Robinson pass for the Rivermen about five minutes into the game to give the home side an early 1-0 lead. The Kings tied the game at 1-1 a few minutes later when Hansen took advantage of a giveaway to notch his fifth goal of the season.
The Rivermen regained the lead when Mario Puskarich beat Kings goalie Thompson early in the second period but once again Prince George tied the game at 2-2 when Rai batted the puck into the Rivermen net from a scramble in the crease. For Rai it was his fifth goal of the season and extended his goal streak to three games.
The trend of the Rivermen taking the lead and the Kings battling to tie it up continued in the final period. Puskarich was credited with his second goal of the game early in the period after Kings forward Ryan Keis knocked the puck into his own net on a clearing attempt.
Rai tied the game at 3-3 with his second of the game but 18 seconds later Ben Greiner restored the Rivermen lead when he capped off a tic-tac-toe passing play.
With the clock ticking down the Kings tied the game at 4-4 on Hansen's second of the game. Rai picked up his third point of the game.
The Kings face the Coquitlam Express in the first meeting between the Mainland division rivals this season tonight, 7 p.m.
