The Penticton Vees have lost just two of their 17 games this season.
The Prince George Spruce Kings were one of the teams that found that winning formula against the B.C. Hockey League frontrunners in the first meeting of the season but were unable to replicate that magic on the ice Wednesday in front of 606 witnesses at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
After giving up the only goal of the first period, the Vees answered with three in the second period and two more in the third to defeat the Spruce Kings 5-1.
Josh Nadeau got the Vees started with his team-leading 14th of the season 4:29 into the second period and Stefano Bottinni gave them the lead 90 seconds later. Casey McDonald, Luc Wilson and Spencer Smith also scored for Penticton (15-2-0-0-0). Former Spruce King centre Fin Williams drew two assists in the game.
Nathan Fox, on a deflection 4:07 into the game, scored the only goal for Prince George (10-7-0-0-0).
Kaeden Lane, a 20-year-old native of Burnaby, stopped 26 of 27 shots to pick up his 15th win of the season. The Kings outshot Penticton 27-25.
Centre Logan Lorenz and defenceman James Bohn made the debuts as Spruce Kings in Wednesday’s game. Lorenz was acquired in a trade from the Vernon Vipers, while Bohn came over in a separate deal from the Coquitlam Express. Right-winger Linden Makow returned to the Prince George lineup after missing 15 games with a broken collarbone.
The Spruce Kings started out the season series with a 7-1 win over the Vees in Prince George on Oct. 27 but lost the rematch 3-0 two days later in Penticton.
The Kings have another tough test in their next game Saturday in Salmon Arm against the Silverbacks (15-3-1-0-0).
