The Prince George Spruce will begin Round 2 of the BCHL playoffs Friday night in Chilliwack.
That’s because Cole Donhausser scored two goals and Daniel Chenard made 43 saves to give the Chilliwack Chiefs a 3-2 win Sunday night over the Langley Rivermen in the seventh and deciding game of their Mainland Division semifinal series.
The Chiefs completed a miraculous comeback after losing the first three games of the series.
Donhausser scored the winner while shorthanded, 17:20 into the second period, and the Chiefs hung on to the lead despite being badly outplayed. Trevor Ayre made it a one-goal game 10:24 into the third period. The Rivermen outshot the Chiefs 14-4 in the third period and 45-21 in the game.
Harrison Blaisdell opened the scoring on a Chiefs’ power play 14:18 into the game. Kalen Szeto got the Rivermen on the scoreboard 4:14 into the second period.
The Chiefs, who wrapped up the regular-season title by finishing one point ahead of the Spruce Kings, lost the opening two games in Chilliwack, 5-4 and 3-2, and faced elimination after a 5-0 loss in Langley. They won the last three games of the series 2-1, 2-1 and 3-2.
The Spruce Kings advanced with a 4-1 series win over the Coquitlam Express. They finished off the Express with a 4-2 win Thursday at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. Games 3 and 4 of the Chiefs-Spruce Kings series will be played next week, on Monday and Tuesday.
Tickets will be on sale at the Spruce Kings office at RMCA.
