There's light at the end of a long road tunnel for the Prince George Spruce Kings.
After this weekend's three-game tour of Powell River, Port Alberni and Chilliwack the Spruce Kings will have to pack their bags for only six more games away from the friendly confines of the Coliseum.
With 22 games left in the 2013-14 season, 13 of those are at home and that bodes well for the Spruce Kings, who are in the thick of a ferocious battle for first place in the B.C. Hockey League Mainland Division.
Tonight's opponent, the other Kings of the BCHL, pose a significant challenge to Prince George. Powell River is tied for second in the overall standings, just one point behind the Coastal Division-leading Victoria Royals, with one game in hand over Victoria. In their only other meeting this season, Dec. 1 in Prince George, the Spruce Kings left the ice with a 3-2 overtime win.
"They slumped a bit before Christmas but they're a very good team," said Dupas. "They do play similar to us, they don't give up a lot of chances, they have good defence and good goaltending. They play hard and it will be a good test for us."
Just three points separates Prince George (21-11-2-2-) from the first-place Langley Rivermen (22-12-1-4), who gained just one of a possible four points last weekend in a home-and-home series with Coquitlam.
"I was hoping for a split in that series," said Dupas. "All that did was put Coquitlam back in the race."
The third-place Express (18-16-0-3) are now seven points behind Prince George. The Spruce Kings can take some satisfaction in the fact the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, who they play Saturday, and their Sunday opponents, the Chilliwack Chiefs, both have losing records. But Dupas and the Spruce Kings aren't taking anything for granted.
"Chilliwack has given us close games and they scored 23 goals in their last three games," said Dupas. "Alberni Valley struggled off the hop and their record is bad a result of their first 12 or 15 games, but they've been close to .500 since then."
The Spruce Kings should be well-rested, having last played Dec. 20 in Chilliwack heading into the Christmas break. The team gathered Wednesday in Vancouver, practised in Richmond, and headed for the ferry later in the day.
Winger Mitch Barker (sprained ankle) is the only injured Spruce King.
