The Prince George Spruce Kings best-of-seven playoff series has now become a best-of-three.
The Kings lost to the visiting Langley Rivermen 4-1 Saturday night at the Coliseum in Game 4 of their best-of-seven B.C. Hockey League Mainland Division semifinal to even the series at 2-2.
The Kings left Sunday for the Lower Mainland where Game 5 is tonight in Langley (7 p.m.), while the two teams will return to the Coliseum for Game 6 Tuesday (7 p.m.). Game 7 is Wednesday in Langley.
"It will be a battle, we have to win the next two," said Kings assistant coach Jason Garneau. "We just have to go down there and play our game. Work hard and do the little things. We feel we're the better team and we have to play to our potential to be successful."
Saturday in front of a crowd of 937 fans in penalty-filled game, Kings forward Jake LeBrun opened the scoring at the 19:00-minute mark of the first period 13 seconds into Prince George's power play when he was set up by Jeremiah Luedtke.
It was LeBrun's first goal of the post-season.
Rivermen forward Hunter Anderson scored a short-handed marker early in the third period to even the game at 1-1.
Anderson added the go-ahead goal mid-way through the third period with a shot from the middle of the slot that beat Kings starting netminder Jesse Jenks, and the Rivermen added two more in the third period from Braydon Barker and William Campion to seal the victory.
The Rivermen were one-for-seven on the power play, while the Kings were one-for-six.
Jenks made 22 saves for the Kings, while his counterpart, Langley netminder Bo Didur swept aside 15 of 16 shots.
"There was too much undisciplined play and too many individual efforts," said Garneau. "Langley imposed their will on us and we bought into it."
The Kings also lost forward Jarryd Leung in the middle of the second period due to an undisclosed injury. He didn't return to the ice in the third. Garneau said it's an upper body injury and was supposed to be evaluated further.
Anderson was named the game's first star while Didur earned second-star honours. Kings defenceman Viktor Dombrovskiy was the third star.
In the other Mainland Division semifinal, Chilliwack leads Coquitlam 3-1. That series resumes tonight with Game 5 in Chilliwack.
