The Prince George Spruce Kings came as close as they've been all season with the Wenatcheee Wild.
But it was the same old result, another loss, for the visiting Spruce Kings Saturday night.
They suffered a 5-3 defeat, their seventh loss this season to the B.C. Hockey League-leading Wild.
Mathew Baker, Dakota Raabe and BCHL scoring leader Brendan Harris each scored in the first period to stake the Wild to a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes. Baker added a power-play goal and Charlie Combs added to his league-leading 44-goal with another power-play maker in the second period.
Tanner Campbell and Ben Poisson got the Kings on the scoreboard in the second period and Kyle Johnson capped the scoring in the third period. Kings winger Ethan O'Rourke, 17, assisted on Poisson's goal for his first career BCHL point.
Anthony Yamnitsky, who picked up the win in goal for the Wild, blocked 26 of 29 shots. Tavin Grant made 26 saves for the Spruce Kings.
The win improved Wenatchee's record to 35-6-4-0. The Wild has yet to lose in regulation time on home ice this season, going 23-0-2-0 at Town Toyota Center.
The good news for the Spruce Kings (19-20-3-2) is they won't have to play Wenatchee again this regular season. The bad news from a Prince George perspective, assuming the Wild holds on to first place in the division and the Kings maintain their grip on fourth place, is those two teams would meet in the first round of playoffs.
The Kings travel to Merritt, Salmon Arm and Vernon for games Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
