When the Prince George Spruce Kings host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks tonight they'll put a two-game win streak on the line.
The Spruce Kings beat their BCHL Interior Conference rival Merritt Centennials 3-2 in overtime Thursday to move above .500 with a 9-8-1-2 record, pulling within two points of the Chilliwack Chiefs (11-6-0-1) for fourth in the conference.
Dave Dupas, Kings' coach, said his team did a good job in beating the Centennials at their own "typical" style game.
"They play a very simple game, pressuring the puck real well and getting pucks in deep and get lots of shots," said Dupas. "As soon as they get over the blueline they took a shot and hope there's a rebound and crash in there for it. Our defence did a good job clearing pucks and Kirk [Thompson] did a good job making the initial saves. It kept us in the game long enough to score that one in overtime."
The reunited line of Michael Colantone between Paul De Jersey and Jujhar Khaira teamed up on the tying goal in the second period, with Khaira - fresh from his stint at the World Junior A Challenge where he won gold with Canada West - finishing the play.
"They probably got more inspiration just seeing him back in the lineup," said Dupas about Khaira.
"It was good for the kids to see that they're not that far away from an elite level."
Stefan Bazar tied the game at 1-1 for the Kings after Merritt led after 20 minutes on a goal by Brent Fletcher. Chad Brears also scored for the Centennials.
Colantone picked up his second assist of the game when he fed the puck to Gerry Fitzgerald in the second overtime period.
Gerry and his brothers Myles and Leo have found the back of the net a lot more often lately.
"They can finish, but they try to get too fancy a lot of the times they want the highlight reel goals," said Dupas.
"I think they just started to simplify their game. If they can continue a north and south type of a game and simplify it a little bit, I think they'll keep on scoring."
Silverbacks first visit
This weekend will be Salmon Arm's first trip to The Coliseum where they'll play a pair of games - tonight at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
The Kings won the first meeting between the clubs this season 6-3, but Dupas said at the time the Silverbacks (6-9-0-5) were having a few goaltending issues and the score wasn't indicative of how close the game was.
"They have some very good players on that team and they're very dangerous offensively, so we're expecting a lot harder opponent here this weekend,"
said Dupas.
Kings' health
Dupas said Thursday was the first time this season the Kings were healthy enough to play without an affiliated player in the lineup. The only player left on the Kings' injury list is forward Sean Landrey who will be out at least two more weeks with a knee
injury.
Defenceman Cody Bardock played in his second game of the season Thursday, while Jeff Earnest made his return to the Kings' lineup after suffering a broken jaw in the second game of the season.
Meanwhile, defenceman Jared Crossan is done after a second surgery to repair an MCL tear in his knee. Crossan missed the second half of the major midget Cariboo Cougars season last spring after tearing his MCL.
During the Kings first exhibition game this season the 18 year old was caught in a rut on the ice, re-injuring his MCL.
