Close only counts in horseshoes.
The Prince George Spruce Kings needed no reminder of that Thursday after a 3-2 loss to the Chilliwack Chiefs at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
It was their 11th one-goal loss for Prince George in 33 games this B.C. Hockey League season.
Playing at home for the first time since Nov. 16, the Kings fell behind the 8-ball early when Chiefs forward Kyle Penney beat goalie Jett Alexander with a blocker-side shot 31 seconds into the game.
The Kings got that one back 14:49 into the first period when defenceman Mason Waite connected on a onetimer fed to him by Nolan Welsh with the Kings on the power play.
Some good work along the boards in the Chiefs' end in the opening minute of the second period led to a go-ahead goal for Carter Cochrane. He and linemate Kolton Cousins kept their feet moving and controlled the puck and Cochrane banged in the rebound after the shot from Cochrane came through the slot.
The Chiefs tied it on a Joey Larson wrister while on the power play 4:07 into the second period, and the winner came 3 1/2 minutes later, an unassisted goal from Nikita Nesterenko.
Nesterenko carried the puck behind the net and with Alexander on his knees caught out of position the Chiefs' forward had all kinds of room on the wraparound to tuck it into the open side. That spelled the end of the night for Alexander after he allowed three goals on 12 shots. Carter Woodside came off the bench to replace him and stopped all 15 shots he faced.
Mathieu Caron made 27 saves to cinch the win for Chilliwack (15-9-4-2, second in Mainland Division). The Chiefs moved nine points ahead of the Spruce Kings (11-17-2-3, fifth in Mainland).
The same teams meet against Friday night (7 p.m.) at RMCA.
