The best record in the league.
Tops in virtually every department.
That's what the Prince George Spruce Kings will have to deal with Sunday afternoon at 3 when they host the Powell River Kings in their only regular season visit to the Coliseum.
Heading into the weekend, the Island Division Kings sport a 19-4-1-1 first-overall record and are four points ahead of the Spruce Kings (16-9-2-2). Powell River has four games in hand over the Spruce Kings and two those games will be played by the time they get to Prince George. They skated Friday night in Chilliwack and are in Merritt tonight, giving the Spruce Kings lots of time to prepare. From a Spruce Kings' perspective, that should mean they can take advantage of a tired Powell River team Sunday, playing its third game in less than three days.
"They're going to have to do what we do almost every weekend when we go on the road, which is play three games, and I don't feel bad for them one bit," said Spruce Kings head coach Dave Dupas. "It's a huge test for us."
Before they stepped on the ice Friday in Chilliwack, Powell River had yet to lose a road game in regulation time. The only blemish in their first eight away games came on Oct. 10 when they lost 4-3 in overtime in Penticton. Through 25 games, Powell River has scored 41 goals more than they've allowed. By comparison, Prince George is plus-13 in that category.
"They're not an easy team to play against, they're one of those teams that scores a lot and gives up very few goals," said Dupas.
Both teams have been receiving great goaltending. Jeff Smith leads the league in goals-against average (1.68) and save percentage (.941) and has a 9-1 record. Jonah Imoo has 2.45 goals-against average and .913 save percentage and has a 10-4-1 record in 16 games.
The Prince George tandem of Jesse Jenks and Alex Murray rates among the best in the BCHL. Jenks is 6-4-1 with a 2.34 average and .920 save percentage, while Murray has a 10-7-1 record with a 2.49 average and .909 save percentage.
Powell River has four forwards averaging better than a point per game, including Union College recruit Ryan Scarfo (12-17-29 ), Drew Dorantes (15-12-27), Denver University-bound Jarid Lukosevicius (8-18-26) and Kurt Keats (7-19-26).
The Spruce Kings are coming off a 2-1 loss at home Wednesday to Langley. They outchanced the Rivermen but weren't able to muster enough quality shots in the early stages to defeat their Mainland Division rivals, who took over top spot in the division with that win.
The Spruce Kings, who have to travel more than any other BCHL team, are through the roughest part of their season schedule and have 16 home games left and 13 on the road. But Dupas cautions that's no reason for his team to let up on the gas pedal. The Spruce Kings' road record (9-4-2-1) is better than when they've been at home (7-5-0-1).
"When you go through a tough stretch and you're playing very well then all of a sudden that's over, then you think it's going to be easy and you can relax, but that just can't creep in," said Dupas.
"In a lot of ways it's easier to go on the road and play because you don't have to worry about anything, you just go play. When you're at home you have distractions, you have the fans to worry about and you have that added pressure that you have to win at home. We can't expect other teams to lay down just because they're traveling."
Spruce Kings centre Bryant Christian (broken jaw) and winger Mitch Barker (sprained ankle) won't play Sunday.
