The Prince George Spruce Kings kept up their losing ways Wednesday night in Salmon Arm.
The host Silverbacks beat them 5-3, stretching the Spruce Kings' winless streak to start the season to five games.
Devin Gannon scored twice to set the tone for Salmon Arm and was named the game's first star. Gannon's first goal came on a two-man power play, 17:17 into the first period, and Brandon Mistal followed that up 29 seconds later, scoring with the Spruce Kings' penalty box still occupied. That gave the Silverbacks a 3-1 lead after one period.
After a scoreless second period, Gannon stretched the lead to 4-1 with an even-strength goal two minutes into the second period. But the Kings still had some life and led by forward Nic DeSousa and defenceman Justin Fillion, they crept back into the game. DeSousa took advantage of a Kings power-play situation at the 3:05 mark of the third and Fillion made it a 4-3 game at 15:38, beating goalie Kris Moore after accepting a pass from DeSousa.
The Kings pulled goalie Kirk Thompson to the bench or the extra skater but that plan backfired when Bryce Gervais found the empty net with the puck.
The Silverbacks outshot the Kings 43-30.
The loss dropped the Kings record to 0-3-0-2. Salmon Arm improved its Interior Conference-leading record to 5-1-0-0.
The Kings return to the Coliseum for a three-games-in-three-nights home weekend. The defending RBC Royal Bank Cup-champion Vernon Vipers visit Prince George Friday night (7 p.m. start) and Sunday afternoon (3 p.m.), while the Penticton Vees pay their first visit to the Coliseum Saturday night (7 p.m.).
The Kings lost 3-2 to the Vees in overtime Tuesday night in Penticton.
