In their first home game of October the Prince George Spruce Kings outworked their opponent to snap a two-game losing skid.
The Spruce Kings (6-4-1-1) spotted the Powell River Kings (4-7-0-2) an early lead but rebounded with a pair of second-period goals for the 2-1 win in front of 1,253 spectators at the Coliseum on Friday night. The Spruce Kings were coming off back-to-back losses to BCHL Mainland division rival, the Langley Rivermen.
It didn't take long for the Spruce Kings to tie the game at 1-1 as Bryant Christian took a cross-ice pass from Jake LeBrun 56 seconds into the period and beat Kings' backup goalie Braeden Osterpchuk with a quick shot from the high slot. It was Christian's third goal of the season.
Less than three minutes later, Quesnel's Ryan Keis fed Justin Rai for his fourth goal of the season.
It was all the offence the Spruce Kings needed as they shut down their opponents with a stellar defensive showing as Kirk Thompson only faced 16 shots in picking up his sixth win of the season.
Both teams failed to score with the man advantage, with the Kings unsuccessful on three chances and the Spruce Kings unable to score on four attempts. Prince George penalty killers did a good job in the final period controlling the play in the Powell River zone.
Powell River opened the scoring late in the first period when Jarryd Leung beat Thompson under the blocker while using a teammate striding down the other wing as a decoy for a 1-0 lead.
The Spruce Kings host the Surrey Eagles (5-4-0-1) tonight, 7 p.m.
Game notes: Spruce Kings scratches were captain Trevor Esau (lower body), David London (broken collarbone), Tyson Witala (ankle sprain) and Lyndon Martell (upper body). Martell was a game-time decision. Tanner Fjellstrom played in place of Martell - his first game of the season after suffering a high-ankle sprain in a preseason game.
