A three games in three nights weekend road swing ended in a hard-fought 2-1 loss Sunday to the Surrey Eagles for the Prince George Spruce Kings.
Despite the loss, the Kings (15-12-2-3) head into the British Columbia Hockey League Christmas break having won two of their final three games. Prince George beat the Langley Rivermen (12-19-1-1) 3-2 and opened the trip with a 3-2 win in Chilliwack in overtime over the Chiefs (19-10-0-2).
The Kings head into the break tied with the Vernon Vipers (16-12-1-2) for the fourth, and final, playoff spot in the Interior Conference and are five points behind the Chiefs and seven points in arrears of the Merritt Centennials (18-10-2-4). The Penticton Vees (30-3-0-2) are the class of the BCHL with 62 points.
In Surrey, the Kings fell behind the Eagles (18-9-1-3) 2-0 on goals from Sean McGovern and Charles Orzetti, but 80 seconds after Orzetti's goal the visitors pulled back within one at 2-1 on a goal from Michael Betz with Karan Toor and Paul De Jersey picking up the assists.
Kirk Thompson did his part in the Kings' net, turning aside 33 shots, but Eagles' goalie Andrew Hunt stood his ground, stopping 29 shots.
The teams played a scoreless third period with the Kings' finishing the game shorthanded with Jujhar Khaira in the penalty box.
In the 3-2 win over the Rivermen, the Kings had a pair of first period power-play goals from Khaira and Ben Matthews, but went into the intermission tied 2-2. Evan Campbell had a shorthanded marker for the Rivermen, while Austin Plevy tied the game with 35 seconds left.
Kings' defenceman Chase Golightly potted the winner midway through the second frame. Golightly and Khaira each had two point nights, as did De Jersey.
Prince George makes another trip to Chilliwack on Wednesday, Dec. 28 to play the Chiefs, before closing out 2011 at The Coliseum when the Trail Smoke Eaters are the visitors at 7 p.m.
