The Merritt Centennials continued to show why they are one of the most improved teams in the B.C. Hockey League and did so at the expanse of the Prince Goerge Spruce Kings.
For the second time in three tries this season the Cents topped the Spruce Kings, winning 4-3 Saturday in Merritt.
Consecutive second-period goals from Dylan Lariviere, Jaxson Murray, and Nathan Taylor staked Merritt to a 4-1 lead. Alexis Cournoyer and Owen Goodbrand replied for the Kings. It remained a one-goal game for the last nine minutes as the Kings were unable to tie it up.
Larlis Mezsargs made 26 saves in the Merritt nets, while Marcus Ouellet took the loss in goals for the Kings, stopping 28 shots.
On Friday night in Penticton, Prince George suffered an 8-1 road loss to the first-place Vees.
The Spruce Kings (5-10-3-0) remain last in the Interior.
They host the Cranbrook Bucks (7-12-1-10) on Friday, then take on the Coastal Conference-leading Surrey Eagles (16-2-0-0) on Saturday at Kopar Memorial Arena in Prince George.
