Two weeks into the BCHL Chilliwack pod, the Chilliwack Chiefs have pretty much ruled the roost playing in their home rink.
They certainly had the Prince George Spruce Kings’ number, winning the first two games head-to-head to get off to a 4-1 season start.
So the Kings had no shortage of inspiration when the teams clashed again Monday night at Chilliwack Coliseum and they found a way to turn the tables on the Chiefs, winning 5-3.
Nick Rheaume and Carter Cochrane each fired two goals and Rowan Miller collected a goal and an assist to carry the Kings (4-2) to their fourth win of the season.
Tanner Andrew and Anaheim Ducks draft pick Ethan Bowen replied for the Chiefs (4-2).
Jordan Fairlie made 28 saves in the Kings’ nets to earn his third victory of the season.
In an eventful third period, the Kings outscored the Chiefs 3-2.
The Kings’ French Connection – Rheaume and Simon Labelle - combined on the third Prince George goal 6:25 into the third. Labelle took the puck deep and drew goalie Mathieu Caron out of his crease with a close-in shot and the rebound popped out to Rheaume, who had an open net to aim at for his third of the season.
Bowen cut the lead to one when he fired in a puck that took a big hop off the end boards. The Kings countered with a shorthanded goal from Miller. Christian Buono set it up when he stripped the puck in the Kings’ end and Miller picked the far corner with a shot along the ice for his first goal in the Chilliwack pod.
Andrew cut the lead to one again shortly after, but that’s as close as it got, thanks to Fairlie, who made a show-stopping save with about a minute left to preserve the victory. Chief centre Kyle Penney won the face off in the Kings’ zone with Caron on the bench and Penney took a pass in the slot and shot, but Fairlie’s anticipated it and kicked out his leg to block the puck.
Cochrane later scored into an empty net with the Kings on a power play. The 19-year-old Victoria native opened the scoring late in the first period, following up on Kolton Cousins’ drive to the net. But the Kings’ habit of taking undisciplined penalties came back to bite them in the second period and Tanner Andrew scored the first of his two goals in the game eight minutes into the second period, lifting a high shot on over the shoulder of Jordan Fairlie.
The Spruce Kings retook the lead late in the second period on a goal from Rheaume that was originally waved off and required an officials’ conference to determine the puck had indeed crossed the line. That came 17:24 into the period. The Kings had to consider themselves lucky to come out of the period with the lead after being forced to kill off three minor penalties and one that carried over into the third period.
The Spruce Kings’ penalty kill has allowed just two goals in 30 opportunities for a 90 per cent kill rate, third-best in the BCHL.
The 18-year-old Fairlie, a native of Fort St. John, was the busier of the two goalies as the Kings were outshot 31-22.
The Kings and Chiefs meet again on Wednesday.
