The Prince George Spruce Kings are coming home with a 2-0 series lead over the Chilliwack Chiefs.
They beat the B.C. Hockey League’s regular season champions 3-2 Saturday night in Chilliwack in Game 2 of the best-of-seven Mainland Division final series and will have a chance to end the series this week with a pair of victories on home ice.
The Spruce Kings picked up where they left off in their 7-0 win in Game 1 Friday and struck first. Chiefs forward Brett Rylance, under forecheck pressure from Nick Poisson, backhanded the puck in front of his own net right to Kings centre Ben Poisson and he picked the corner high behind goalie Daniel Chenard from close range for his team-leading fifth playoff goal just 3:09 into the game.
The Chiefs drew even nine minutes later. Harrison Blaisdell was set up in front by Matt Holmes for a quick shot that got through the blocker side of Logan Neaton.
The Kings were on a two-man advantage to start the second period and near the end of he second penalty Max Coyle made it a 2-1 game, scoring his first of the playoffs with a slapper from the point. The Poisson brothers, Ben and Nick, combined for the third Spruce Kings’ goal midway through the second period. A crisp stretch pass from Liam Watson-Brawn landed on rthe stick of Ben Poisson and he forced Chenard to make a kick save but the rebound came out to Nick and he backhanded a shot through the legs of Chenard for his third goal of the playoffs.
Late in the period the Chiefs made it a one-goal game after a prolonged scramble in front of Neaton. The Kings’ goalie was without his stick when Kevin Wall redirected a pass from Ethan Bowen into the deep slot while surrounded by Spruce Kings.
The Spruce Kings gave up fewer goals than any other BCHL team in the regular season and they formed a tight shield in the third period, limiting the Chiefs to just six shots and a total of 20 in the game. Neaton made a game-saving pad save with 1:30 left to deny Skyler Brind'Amour on a setup in the slot from Jacques Bouquot. The Spruce Kings directed 26 shots at Chenard.
The series now switches to Prince George for Games 3 and 4 Monday and Tuesday at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. Tickets will be on sale Monday morning starting at 11 a.m. at the Kings office at RMCA.
Whichever team wins the series will hold home ice advantage to start the third and, if they advance, in the league championship series. The Chiefs (42-15-1-0) finished with a league-best 85 points, one more than the Spruce Kings (39-13-1-5), who finished second overall.
In other BCHL playoff results Saturday, Ben Berard scored the overtime winner 16:09 into the extra session to give the visiting Powell River Kings a 6-5 win over the Victoria Grizzlies. That Island Division final series is now tied 1-1.
In Vernon, Owen Ozar fired the OT dagger just 12 seconds in to give the Trail Smoke Eaters a 5-4 victory and a 2-0 lead in their Interior Conference semifinal series.
In Wenatchee, the Wild doubled the Cowichan Valley Capitals 6-3 win which deadlocked that Interior series 1-1.
