The Powell River Kings are making it tough for the Prince George Spruce Kings in the B.C. Hockey League’s game of thrones.
Ben Berard scored a power-play goal 13:40 into the second overtime period to give Prince George/Powell River a 3-2 win in Game 3 of the BCHL Coastal Conference final series Monday night in Powell River.
The goal, Berard’s third overtime winner of the playoffs, came after Spruce Kings forward Dustin Manz took a penalty for making head contact with Kyle Kanamura.
Powell River now trails in the series 2-1 with Game 4 set for tonight in Powell River.
Matteo Paler-Chow made 40 saves to record his eighth victory of the playoffs.
Looking to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Coastal Conference final series, the Spruce Kings overcame a 2-0 deficit to force extra time. Both teams had chances to end it in the first overtime and each managed nine shots on goal in the period. Spruce Kings forward Sam Anzai had the best chance 13:30 into OT, all alone with the puck in front of the Powell River net but Paler-Chow made the save.
The Powell River goalie came up with a huge three minutes into the second overtime to keep Ethan de Jong from ending it when he was set up in front of the net.
Jay Keranen and Kyle Johnson were the Spruce Kings goalscorers in regulation time. Neal Samanski and Kevin Obssuth scored for Powell River.
After carrying the play to Powell River and building a 9-5 shot advantage, the Spruce Kings gave up goals 15 seconds apart nine minutes into the opening period. Powell River centre Samanski picked up a loose puck after linemate Ben Berard got dumped and fired a shot off the left wing boards which slipped in low past Prince George goalie Evan DeBrouwer, 15:17 into the game.
Powell River gained the puck in the neutral zone and Carter Turnbull took it deep into the slot bearing down on DeBrouwer but instead of shooting he fed a pass to Obssuth, who buried his shot from the left side. Obssuth, a 20-year-old Canisius College recruit from New Jersey, made his return Monday wearing a full face shield after missing nine games after he got hurt in Game 5 of the first round against Nanaimo.
Playing at home in front of a crowd of 1,033 at Hap Parker Arena, Powell River generated more offence in the second period alone than they did in 60 minutes of a 5-1 loss in Game 2 Saturday in Prince George and easily could have added to the lead, if not for the play of DeBrouwer. Prince George was outshot 18-6 in the second period and three of those shots came in rapid succession nine minutes into the period. The 20-year-old goalie from Blenheim, Ont., kicked out his feet to turn aside Turnbull at point-blank range, then followed Samanski across the crease to get his glove in the way of the shot and also stopped the rebound.
Not long after that, defenceman Keranen got the Spruce Kings on the scoreboard. Johnson, the Spruce Kings captain, started the rush carrying the puck up the right wing boards and made a drop-pass to Patrick Cozzi, who spotted Keranen in the high slot and he found the net with a wristshot.
DeBrouwer came up with his best save of the series with four minutes left in the second period, diving across the crease to get his glove in the way as Ethan Kimball went wide through the crease with the puck and shot at the open side.
The Spruce Kings tied it 2-2 with 2:06 gone in the third period. Dylan Anhorn carried the puck in and left it for de Jong on the left side. He passed to Johnson who fired from the point a shot that deflected off the glove of Powell River defenceman Carmine Buono and in behind Paler-Chow. The Spruce Kings held the edge in the third period, outshooting Powell River 12-10.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Spruce Kings will host Game 5 on Thursday. If it goes beyond that, Game 6 would be held Saturday in Powell River and Game 7 would be played Monday in Prince George… Spruce Kings defenceman Liam Watson-Brawn completed his four-game suspension for making head contact with Surrey Eagles winger Desi Burgart during Game 6 of the Interior Division final. Watson-Brawn, 18, has three goals and six assists for none points in 13 playoff games and was ranked sixth in team scoring in the postseason heading into Monday’s game… The Trail Smoke Eaters will try to avoid a 3-0 deficit in the Interior Conference final when they host the Wenatchee Wild in Game 3 tonight in Trail. Game 4 will be played Wednesday at Cominco Arena.
BCHL playoffs
Coastal Conference final
Prince George Spruce Kings vs. Powell River River Kings
(Spruce Kings lead best-of-seven series 2-1)
Game 3
Tuesday’s summary
Spruce Kings 2 at Kings 3 (2 OT)
First Period
- Powell River, Samanski 5 (Berard) 15:17
2. Powell River, Obssuth 3 (Turnbull, Coblenz) 15:32
Penalty – Welsh PG (hooking) 18:11
Second Period
3. Prince George, Keranen 4 (Cozzi, Johnson) 13:50
Penalties – Turnbull PR (interference) 4:04, Hovde PG (goaltender interference) 18:40.
Third Period
4. Prince George, Johnson 5 (de Jong, Anhorn) 2:06
Penalties – None.
First Overtime
No scoring.
Penalties – None
Second Overtime
5. Powell River, Berard 10 (Turnbull, Buono) 13:40 (pp)
Penalties – Manz PG (check to the head, served by Cozzi, misconduct) 12:48.
Shots on goal by
Prince George 11 6 12 9 4 -42
Powell River10 18 10 9 6 -53
Goal – Prince George, DeBrouwer (L,10-7); Powell River, Paler-Chow (W,8-4).
Power plays – PG: 0-1; PR: 1-3.
Attendance – 1,033.
Referees – Steve Brown, Dexter Rasmussen; Linemen – Jeff MacAdams, Chris VanDeventer.
Scratches – Prince George: D Liam Watson-Brawn (served fourth game of four-game suspension), F Ben Poisson (ruptured spleen, week-to-week), D Oliver Lester (ankle injury, out for season), F Corey Cunningham (healthy); Powell River: G Derek Krall (healthy), D Sam Pouliot (healthy), F Jonny Evans (injured), F Ethan Jones (healthy).
