The Prince George Spruce Kings haven’t boarded its team bus yet and they are already halfway to their next destination.
Kolton Cousins put the BCHL’s most northern franchise in the driver’s seat on Saturday, scoring a pair of goals in a 4-1 win over the Cranbrook Bucks in front of 1,233 fans at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
“It’s such a huge advantage for us, playing at home is so cool,” said Cousins.
“Obviously, we haven’t had playoffs for a couple years and the atmosphere is pretty special and I’m looking forward to the next round or Game 5 at home.”
The Spruce Kings lead the best-of-seven Interior Conference quarter-final 2-0.
After a scoreless opening period, Cousins sent the crowd into a frenzy tapping home an easy rebound past Bucks netminder Nathan Airey following a hard shot from the corner by Luc Laylin.
Less than three minutes later, Nick Rheaume doubled PG’s early advantage, unleashing a hard one-timer on a delayed Cranbrook penalty.
Severing the puck to Rheaume on a platter was overage blueliner Dylan Schives who was a wrecking ball dishing out several big hits at both ends of the ice.
“We want to play physical, that is part of our identity and we have to play to our strengths. It makes them a bit scared and gives us an advantage. I liked my physical game today,” added Schives.
However, the young Bucks put themselves back within one as leading scorer Tyson Dyck found a crease inside the post that squirted past Spruce Kings netminder Aaron Trotter for a 2-1 edge.
In the third, PG locked it down defensively, bottling up Cranbrook’s offensive attack – holding them to eight shots on goal.
Laylin gave the Spruce Kings some added breathing room, redirecting a Josh Wright point shot through the legs of Airey.
Trailing by two, with time becoming a factor, Cranbrook head coach Ryan Donald elected to pull Airey with less than four minutes to go for the extra-attacker.
Cousins intercepted an errant pass from Bucks blueliner Rhys Bentham, putting the puck into the yawning cage.
Cranbrook was without forwards Noah Quinn and Liam Hansson as each received 2-game suspensions after accumulating major penalties in Friday’s 4-1 defeat.
PG outshot the Bucks 34-24. Both teams went a combined 0-for-5 on the power-play.
Games 3 and 4 are in Cranbrook Monday and Tuesday from Western Financial Place.
“They are a good, speedy team and going back to Cranbrook they will be pumped up to play us and they are down 2-0 in the series and they will be desperate. We have to come out hard and match the intensity,” added Cousins.
Game 5, if necessary, will be held Thursday at 7pm from the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
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