The Prince George Spruce Kings are closing in on first place again.
A 6-0 road win Wednesday night over the Coquitlam Express left the Spruce Kings (18-9-2-2) within a point of the first-place Langley Rivermen, who were idle Wednesday.
Chad Staley, who notched the overtime winner in Sunday's 3-2 win over Powell River at the Coliseum, picked up where he left off and opened the scoring Wednesday just 1:12 into the game. It was the team-leading 16th goal of the season for Staley, a 19-year-old native of Kennewick, Wash.
The Kings cashed in both of their first period power-play chances. Jake LeBrun potted his 11th goal. finishing off a rink-length rush at 14:05 and defenceman Christian Weidauer added to the total at 17:38, blasting a rebound past goalie Pierce Dushenko.
Alex Murray was sharp from the start of the game in goal for the Spruce Kings, blocking 33 shots to earn his second shutout of the season. The 20-year-old from Burlington, Ont., was superb in net as the Express responded with a strong pushback to try to reduce the early deficit. The Kings were outshot 33-20.
Jeremiah Luedtke, Caleb Thompson, on a power play, and Matt Painchaud, into an empty net, completed the scoring in the third period.
The Express (14-14-0-2) remained third in the Mainland Division. The same teams will tangle Friday night in Coquitlam.
Kings' captain Bryant Christian returned to the lineup Wednesday after missing 11 games with a broken jaw. Christian left the game 8:32 into the third period after taking a high hit under the chin from Express defenceman John Saunders, who drew an interference penalty on the play.
The Kings added 18-year-old right winger Marco Ballarin to the roster from the Ridge Meadows Flames of the Pacific Junior (B) Hockey League. He made his BCHL debut playing on a line with Brogan O'Brien and Sean Landrey and finished with one assist. Ballarin had 16 goals and 16 assists in 23 games for the Flames...
The Spruce Kings are now unbeaten in regulation time in their last 10 games.
