The Cranbrook Bucks have strengthened their grip on second place in the Interior Division with a 4-3 win over the Spruce Kings.
Cranbrook scored twice in the final four minutes of the first period to put themselves up 2-0.
Prince George rallied in the second period, tying the game on goals from Jack Stockfish and Amran Bhabra, outshooting the Bucks 13-4.
They were not able to keep that pace moving into the third and two Cranbrook goals under two minutes sunk the Spruce Kings’ hopes of a comeback victory.
With the net empty, Ty Gango brought the score back within one with 26 seconds left in the game but it proved to be too little too late.
The Kings outshot the Bucks 34-27, neither team scored on the powerplay – PG was 0/2, Cranbrook was 0/3.
The loss drops the Spruce Kings’ record to 20-15-2-1, 4th place in the Interior Division standings.
Cranbrook moves to 26-10-1-1, six points up on West Kelowna for second place.
The Spruce Kings are one point ahead of Salmon Arm, three points ahead of Vernon, and four points ahead of Wenatchee in the tight race for playoff positioning.
The Spruce Kings carry on to Trail (15-18-2-3) for a 7:00 match tonight, then loop back to Salmon Arm to play at 5:00 on Sunday.
For the game’s boxscore, click here.
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