The Prince George Spruce Kings stopped the Coquitlam Express right in their tracks Sunday.
The Kings derailed their rival Express 5-1 in a B.C. Hockey League Mainland Division tilt at the Prince George Coliseum.
"We were definitely looking for that. It was our best game in a month and a half," said Kings head coach Dave Dupas. "We were rolling four lines, everybody was doing their job and we controlled everything."
Prince George's win, combined with a 3-3 double-overtime tie against the same Express squad Saturday at the Castle, gave them three out of four points on the weekend to improve to 26-15-3-2, good for 57 points and remain in second place in the Mainland Division.
The Express, who're battling the Kings for the second-place playoff spot and home-ice advantage, remain in third place in the division at 23-19-2-3 with 51 points.
Sunday in front of 1,197 fans at the Coliseum, the Spruce Kings netted three goals in the second period for a 3-0 lead after a scoreless first period.
Brent Lashuk scored his 19th goal of the season on a Kings power play when he tipped the puck into a wide-open net after a pass to the top of the crease from Jake LeBrun.
Marco Ballarin netted his fourth goal of the season on a back-hand shot that slid past Express goalie Gordie Defiel.
During a Kings penalty kill, rookie Cole Todd scored his first goal of the season with a wriist shot on a give-and-go play with Chad Staley.
In the third period, Prince George added insurance markers on goals from Bryant Christian and Justin Rai.
Coquitlam's Cameron Marks ruined Kings' netminder Alex Murray's bid at a shut-out when he scored with 16 seconds left in the game.
Prince George outshot Coquitlam 40-20.
Defenceman Karan Toor, who'd been out of the lineup for the last three games, made a game-time decision Sunday that he would play.
"Karan wasn't going to play, but he's such a warrior," Dupas said. "He knew we needed him and he had a great game. He's our heart and soul and that's why he's wearing the 'A'."
Saturday night in their 3-3 tie, Jake LeBrun scored two goals in the first period. The teams traded goals, including a power play marker by Christian, in the third period, but two rounds of 4-on-4 and 3-on-3 overtime solved nothing.
The Kings lost their rookie defenceman Danny Kiraly when he was checked into the end boards from behind by Coquitlam's JD Controneo in the third period.
The hit knocked Kiraly out and was taken off the ice on a stretcher and transported to the University Hospital of Northern B.C.
Controneo received a five-minute penalty for boarding and a game misconduct.
Kiraly was eventually up and moving and released from hospital.
"He was unconcious and he's got a pretty good cut above his right eye," Dupas said. "He was at the game tonight [Sunday sitting in the stands taking stats] and light and music aren't bothering him, but he does have a concussion. We'll see how he does."
Both the Kings and Express aren't done battling yet for second place in the Mainland Division.
Coquitlam returns to Prince George for another two-game set beginning Friday at the Coliseum.
"We need to establish our dominance and get home-ice advantage," Dupas said. "With three out of four points this weekend it keeps Coquitlam in our rear-view mirror. We're going to have to have another good run and win some more games because we know how good Coquitlam is."
