Jeremiah Luedtke extended the Prince George Spruce Kings post-season when he scored in sudden death overtime to give the Kings a 3-2 win against the visiting Coquitlam Express Monday night at the Coliseum.
Luedtke's goal, his second of Game 5 in the BCHL's Mainland Division semifinal tilt in the best-of-seven series, sent the fans at the Coliseum into a frenzy.
The series now returns to Coquitlam Tuesday for Game 6. The Express lead the series 3-2.
The game was deadlocked at 2-2 after three periods of regulation play.
Overtime in the playoffs means a 17-minute intermission followed by 20 minutes of sudden death.
Express forward Bo Pieper tied the game at 2-2 with just a little more than nine minutes left in the third period.
Neither team could score the winner in regulation.
The Kings threw everything they had at the Coquitlam Express in regulation.
They outshot them 38-16. They blocked shots. They forechecked.
If they had a kitchen sink, they probably would've thrown that too.
Kings went ahead 2-1 seven minutes into the third period when Luedtke slid the puck past Express netminder Gordie Defiel on a goal-mouth scramble. Justin Rai and Chad Staley netted the assists on Luedtke's goal.
Trailing 1-0, defenceman Mitch Eden put the Kings the board on the team's third power play opportunity with little more than three minutes left in the second period. It was his third goal of the post-season.
Prince George had two power play opportunities earlier in the period, but couldn't capitalize with the man-advantage.
Coquitlam scored on only their fifth shot on goal in the first period when Corey Mackin tapped the puck into the net five minutes remaining in the period for a 1-0 lead. Kings outshot them 14-5.
Captain Bryant Christian was back in the lineup after taking a puck in the mouth in Game 1 last week. Wearing a full face shield, Christian centred a line with his regular linemate Jake LeBrun and Justin Rai.
D Karan Toor remained out of the lineup, still dealing with an lower-body injury he suffered in Game 2 of the series at the Coliseum.
Videos courtesy of Prince George Spruce Kings.
Series-saving save:
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Double overtime winning goal:
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