It was a tough pill to swallow for the Prince George Spruce Kings.
The Spruce Kings (12-7-1-4) fell 2-1 to the Surrey Eagles (14-7-0-2) in double overtime Friday at the Coliseum in B.C. Hockey League action. The loss leaves the Spruce Kings a single point behind the Eagles for second place in the Mainland division but pulled them within five points of the division-leading Chilliwack Chiefs (16-6-1-1) who saw their six-game win streak end in Merritt.
It was a hard-fought game between two well matched teams in front of 1,106 fans at the Prince George Coliseum as the goaltenders - Kirk Thompson for the Spruce Kings and Michael Santaguida for the Eagles - were both stellar in their respective nets. The Eagles out shot the Spruce Kings 40-36.
The teams entered the third period tied at 1-1 and nothing changed 20 minutes later sending the game into five minutes of four-on-four hockey. Tyson Witala thought he'd given the Spruce Kings the win 30 seconds into the extra time but the goal was waved off after several minutes of discussion between the officials.
It took until the second overtime period, but the Eagles benefitted from the disallowed goal when Michael Stenerson put the puck into the empty cage during the three on three as Kings goalie Kirk Thompson was on the other side of the crease for the 2-1 win.
In the second period the Eagles had the Spruce Kings on their heels early, boxing them in their own zone for the first two minutes of the period but good defence kept the puck away from the danger zone. Thompson made a highlight reel save early when he dove across his crease to poke the puck away from an Eagles player on a wraparound attempt.
The Eagles controlled much of the early play but it was the Spruce Kings who had the early 1-0 lead. Prince George product Tanner Fjellstrom scored his first BCHL goal when he picked up the rebound and beat Eagles goalie Santaguida. Ryan Keis and Coltyn Hansen assisted.
But the Eagles tied the game at 1-1 on their first power play of the game less than three minutes later when Stenerson beat Thompson with his seventh goal of the season.
It was a scoreless opening 20 minutes as both goaltenders made 11 saves. Spruce Kings forward Cameron Lawson had the home side's best chance to score when he beat Santaguida but dinged the post with five minutes to play in the period.
Defencemen Mark Begert and Kevin Guiltinan made their Spruce Kings debut after being acquired in separate trades Thursday. The third player acquired by the Kings, forward Jace Hennig, missed the game due to injury.
Prince George was 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
The two teams meet again tonight at the Coliseum, 7 p.m., in their fifth meeting of the season.
Notes: Former Prince George Cougars goaltender Devon Fordyce is playing with the AJHL's Brooks Bandits as part of a three-goalie system. The 18-year-old has played in one game where he stopped 24 of 25 shots for the win. The Bandits are the top junior A team in Canada with a 22-1 record. Brooks' only loss came against the Grande Prairie Storm. Another former Cougar, Greg Fraser is playing his 20-year-old season with the Nanaimo Clippers and has worked himself up to 12th in BCHL scoring with eight goals (28 points) including four points for the Clippers Friday against the Powell River Kings. The Clippers were leading 5-3 at press time.
British Columbia Hockey League
at Prince George Coliseum
Friday, Nov. 23, 2012
Surrey Eagles 2 Prince George Spruce Kings 1 2OT
First period:
No scoring.
Penalties: Pierog SUR (kneeing) 16:23; Blacklock SUR (hooking), Pacheco PG (unsportsmanlike conduct)16:38.
Second period:
1. Prince George Tanner Fjellstrom 1 (Keis, Hansen) 9:57
2. Surrey Michael Stenerson 7 (Blacklock, Klimek) 12:40 pp
Penalties: Stipancik SUR (tripping), Hannoun SUR (10-minute misconduct) 10:06; Eden PG (hooking) 11:08; Staley PG (tripping) 13:41.
Third period:
No scoring.
Penalties: Bench minor PG (too many men, served Ryan Keis)11:32; Hannoun SUR (boarding minor, served by Michael Stenerson, game misconduct) 14:55.
Overtime 1:
No scoring.
Penalties: None.
Overtime 2:
3. Surrey Michael Stenerson 8 (Cameron) 2:57
Penalties: None.
Shots:
Surrey 11 11 10 4 4 40
Prince George 11 13 6 5 1 36
Goaltenders: Surrey Michael Santaguida (W/L 8-4-0); Prince George Kirk Thompson (W/L 11-7-1)
Power plays: Surrey 1/3 Prince George 0/3
Attendance: 1,106
