Jarod Hovde held a hot stick Friday night in Coquitlam and that piece of composite material warmed the hearts of the Prince George Spruce Kings.
Hovde scored two goals and set up two others to lead the visiting Kings to a 6-3 triumph over the Coquitlam Express.
The Spruce Kings (10-10-1-2, third in Mainland Division) went 1-1 in their two-game B.C. Hockey League trip, following Thursday's 2-1 overtime loss in Surrey. The Express (6-15-0-2) remained sixth in Mainland.
Travis Schneider also fired in a pair for the Spruce Kings in Coquitlam, while Parker Colley and Sam De Melo also scored for the Kings. Alex Ambrosio, Christian Bosa and Ryleigh Anderson answered the Express.
Tavin Grant made 32 stops in the Kings nets, improving to 3-4-0. The Kings outshot the Express 48-35. Coquitlam went 1-for-10 on the power play whilethe Kings finished 2-for-6.
The Kings started their trip in Surrey with a 2-1 overtime loss to the Surrey Eagles. Nick Minerva scored 2:03 into the second overtime period to cinch the win for Surrey.
Chong Lee collected his seventh of the season to open the scoring early in the game. The Eagles tied it with a power-play goal later in the first period from Darius Davidson.
Grant made 47 saves in the Kings' nets, as they were outshot 49-34. Eagles goalie Michael Botiz improved his record to 7-9-0.
