Finally, the Prince George Spruce Kings found a way to win in a shootout.
After five unsuccessful shootout ventures this season in the B.C. Hockey League, as it turned out they needed just one shooter to score and beat the Coquitlam Express 4-3 Friday night at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
Nick Bochen answered the call as the first to go in the league's newly-adopted tiebreaking format and he delivered, going forehand-backhand to beat goalie Kolby Matthews with a high shot.
Logan Neaton did the rest with consecutive saves off Connor Gregga, Chase Danol and Danny Pearson to seal the victory.
The win moved the Spruce Kings (28-12-1-5, second in the Mainland Division) eight points ahead of the Express (25-18-2-2, third in Mainland) and kept the Kings within five points of the league-leading Chilliwack Chiefs, who beat Merritt 3-2 Friday.
"I feel good for Logan - he's had it tough in shootouts, as have our players, and it was a great shot by Nick Bochen to score the first one that put the pressure on Coquitlam to have to score and Logan shut the door," said Kings general manager Mike Hawes.
"It was a bit unfortunate we gave away a lead in the third period, a bit out of character for us, but good thing we found a way to get the two points."
The Express scored two unanswered goals in the third period to force overtime.
In the opening minute of 3-on-3 OT, Kings defenceman Layton Ahac had the first chance but Matthews made a standup save and was there to prevent Ahac's wraparound chance. But the best saves came at the other end of the ice with about two minutes left in the five-minute session. Troy Robillard broke in on the left wing and had two wicked shots on Neaton but was denied each time, first by his leg pad and then by his chest protector with Neaton well out of his crease.
The Kings got off to a great start in the game and had the Express on their heels through much of the opening period. The top scoring line for Prince George, Ben Brar-Dustin Manz-Patrick Cozzi, was especially dangerous, generating quality chances on their first three shifts, which put Matthews to the test.
The Kings grabbed the lead on the first power play of the game, 7:44 in. Manz got himself in perfect position standing in front of the crease and was there to deflect in Bochen's point shot.
The Kings built up a 12-2 shot advantage just before Cozzi made it a 2-0 score while shorthanded. Cozzi forced a turnover deep in his own zone, skated the length of the ice and toe-dragged the puck into the middle of the ice as he launched a hard wrister that went in under Matthews' arm.
Ty Westgard cut the lead in half late in the first period with a shot from the side of the net that beat Neaton on his glove side.
The Spruce Kings' power play ranks 16th out of 17 teams in the BCHL but it looked quite efficient on their second chance of the night and Manz made it happen, scoring the only goal of the second period. He was all alone at the top of the face-off circle when the puck slid out to him after linemate Brar was denied on a close-in chance. Manz, while pivoting, connected on a low slapshot that found the back of the net.
Not long after that, trying for his third hat trick of the season, Manz was sprung on a breakaway pass from Brar but mishandled the puck and didn't get a shot away.
Outshot 25-11 through 40 minutes, the Express made a game of it, scoring those two unanswered goals in the third period, both off face-off wins in the Spruce Kings end. The first came on a Coquitlam power play 3:45 into the period when Dallas Farrell teed off from his point position for his 15th of the year.
Then at the 9:21 mark, Express defenceman Jordan Schulting, denied a few minutes earlier by a big glove save from Neaton, made it a 3-3 game. He let go another long shot that kicked high off Neaton's stick blade and floated in over his shoulder.
LOOSE PUCKS: The teams meet again at RMCA in the rematch tonight at 7... The game drew 1,307 spectators, the second-biggest crowd of the season at RMCA... Edmonton Oilers defenceman Brandon Manning dropped by the rink to watch the Spruce Kings, his former junior team, play a league game for the first time since he left to join the WHL with the Chilliwack Bruins. Manning, 28, was traded to Edmonton Dec. 30 from the Chicago Blackhawks. He played 58 regular-season and four playoff games for the Spruce Kings in 2007-08.
Friday's summary
Express 3 at Spruce Kings 4 (SO)
First Period
1. Prince George, Manz 23 (Bochen, Anhorn) 7:44 (pp)
2. Prince George, Cozzi 10, 17:12 (sh)
3. Coquitlam, Westgard 12 (Kimens, Robillard) 18:41
Penalties - Cameron Coq (tripping) 7:22, Donaldson PG (holding) 15:39.
Second Period
4. Prince George, Manz 24 (Brar, Bochen) 15:05 (pp)
Penalties - B.Poisson PG (interference) 9:08, Donaldson PG (misconduct) 14:36, Pearson Coq (interference) 14:36.
Third Period
5. Coquitlam, Farrell 15 (Walton, Sanda) 3:45 (pp)
6. Coquitlam, Schulting 3 (Danol) 9:21
Penalties - Vanroboys PG (tripping) 1:52.
Overtime
No scoring
Penalties - None.
Shootout
Coquitlam: Gregga, missed; Danol, missed; Pearson, missed; Prince George: Bochen, scored; Brar, missed; B.Poisson, missed.
Shots on goal by
Coquitlam 3 8 9 4 -24
Prince George 15 10 5 2 -32
Goal - Coquitlam, Matthews (L,13-11-2); Prince George, Neaton (W,24-7-5).
Referees - Kevin Crowell, Evan McKinnon; Linesmen - Tyler Garden, Anthony Maletta.
Attendance - 1,307.
