Put away the defibrillator, the Prince George Spruce Kings have a pulse.
The Kings staved off elimination in the B.C. Hockey League playoffs and avoided a four-game sweep in their best-of-seven Mainland Division semifinal series after a convincing 7-4 win over the Wenatchee Wild Wednesday night at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
Tavin Grant proved the difference in a spectacular display of goaltending, making 50 saves for the first playoff win of his BCHL playoff career.
The Wild was expecting to wrap up the series in four games, but the Kings were not about to go down without a fight. Inspired by their close 2-1 loss on home ice in Game 3 Tuesday, they gave the regular-season champs all they could handle.
Kyle Johnson scored two goals and Tyler Anderson had a goal and an assist to lead the Kings' cause.
They could not have asked for a better start. Prince George led 3-0 before the game was 14 minutes old. The Wild had two in the penalty box when Anderson, the league award winner as the Mainland Division's top defenceman, slapped in a point shot to open the scoring at 5:44. Then at the 9:07 mark, Ethan de Jong threaded a lead pass off his backhand side to Ben Poisson, who finished off his fast-break entry into the offensive zone with a high shot into the net.
Homegrown defenceman Bryan Allbee picked up his first of the playoffs 13:26 into the first, scoring on a high wrist shot from 30 feet away. That prompted a goaltending change and Devon Cooley came into replace Anthony Yamnitsky, after he'd allowed three goals on nine shots.
The Wild certainly had their chances. Charlie Combs, who led the BCHL with 51 goals in 58 regular-season games, was probably the most frustrated Wenatchee forward. He nailed the goalpost in the opening period and just missed an open net with a close-in shot and also tested Grant a couple times but the Kings goalie was sharp in his fourth consecutive playoff start, keeping the Wild off the scoreboard.
The Spruce Kings found their groove again 56 seconds into the second period to run their lead to 4-0. Kyle Johnson picked up a loose puck just outside the crease and went wide with a backhander which eluded Cooley's kick-save attempt.
The Wild finally cracked the safe on their first power-play chance of the game, four minutes into the second period. Alex Bates let go of a high hard shot that sailed in over the glove of Grant. That brought the Wild offence to life and they were all over the Kings for the next eight minutes, but couldn't score on Grant, who cut down the angles and controlled his rebounds.
The Kings came on strong late in the period and were rewarded when Anderson sent Ethan de Jong in on a breakaway. The puck was rolling on edge as de Jong crossed the blue line and he let go a low shot to the far side that found the net behind Cooley for a 5-1 lead with 1:13 left in the second period. That stood as the game-winner. Poisson nearly made it a five-goal lead with six seconds left in the period when he ripped a zinger off the goal post.
Johnson and his linemates Tanner Campbell and Jarod Hovde buzzed the Wild net on their first shift of the third period and got what they were after - another goal to celebrate for a 6-1 lead.
But the Wild responded with a pair of goals 20 seconds apart to make for a nervous ending for the Kings' supporters in the crowd of 874. Matt Baker rapped in a Combs rebound on a Wenatchee power play and Dakota Raabe connected at even strength at the 4:11 mark after a face-off win in the Kings'end. Then at the 10:22 mark, AJ Vanderbeck shot one in from a sharp angle to make it a 6-4 game.
The Kings had a great chance to put the game out of reach late into their third power play of the game with three minutes left when Allbee got behind the defence and fired a shot that hit the post and trickled close to the line, but the Wild covered up before Hovde was able to jam it in.
The Wild had their chances with Cooley on the bench for the extra skater but Grant stood his ground, making 20 saves in the third period alone. Ben Brar ended the suspense, finding the empty net for the seventh goal. The Kings were outshot 54-33 in the game.
The series resumes Friday night at RMCA with Game 5. If needed, Games 6 and 7 would be played Sunday and Monday in Wenatchee.
Game Summary
Wild 4, Spruce Kings 7
First Period
1. Prince George, Anderson 2 (Mennear) 5:44 (pp)
2. Prince George, Poisson 1 (de Jong, Min Lee) 9:07
3. Prince George, Allbee 1 (Colley, Ward) 13:26
Penalties - Baker Wen (interference) 4:01, Wen bench (too many men, served by Combs) 4:52
Second Period
4. Prince George, Johnson 2 (Anderson) 0:56
5. Wenatchee, Bates 1 (Vanderbeck) 4:09 (pp)
6. Prince George, de Jong 1 (Anderson) 18:47
Penalties - Burnett PG (high-sticking) 2:50, Raabe Wen (unsportsmanlike conduct), Colley PG (cross-checking) 13:13.
Third Period
7. Prince George, Johnson 3 (Campbell, Hovde) 1:48
8. Wenatchee, Baker 3 (Combs) 2:49 (pp)
9. Wenatchee, Raabe 3 (Baker) 4:11
10. Wenatchee, Vanderbeck 2 (O'Brien) 10:22
11. Prince George, Brar 2, 19:50 (en)
Penalties - Chong Lee PG (tripping) 2:41, Demin Wen (hooking) 15:07.
Shots on goal by
Wenatchee 14 17 22 -54
Prince George 10 15 8 -33
Goal - Wenatchee, Yamnitsky (9 shots-6 saves) and, at 13:26 of first period, Cooley (L.0-1, 27-24); Prince George, Grant W,1-3, 54-50).
Power play - Wen: 2-2; PG: 1-3.
Referees - Nick Panter, Hasret Sidhu; Linesmen - Josh Albinati, Anthony Maletta.
Scratches - Wenatchee: F Troy Conzo (healthy), F Lucas Sowder (concussion); Prince George: G Stefan Wornig (medical condition), D Connor Russell (upper body), F Ethan O'Rourke (healthy), F Hunter Luhmann (healthy).
Attendance - 874.
