Imagine being told, not long after Owen Goodbrand came off the long-term injured list for the Prince George Spruce Kings, the biggest goal of his season to date would come in Duncan.
Well, he did just that on Friday as the 20-year-old forward scored the game-winner at 5:46 f of the second period to give the Spruce Kings a 5-2 road victory over the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
PG overcame a slow start in the opening 20 minutes thanks to the stellar goaltending of Charles-Edward Gravel who stopped all 16 Capital shots he faced.
Cooper Williams put the visitors in the driver’s seat at 14:41 of the first period cashing in on a Mason Loewen feed to make it 1-0 for the visitors.
Prior to Goodbrand lighting the lamp, Kazumo Sasaki chimed in with a goal of his own in the second period off a Carter Hesselgrave pass beating Cowichan netminder Erick Roest.
Ex-Spruce King Luca Primarano gave the Capitals new life at 6:05 of the middle frame as his even-strength goal trimmed the deficit to 3-1.
Jake Gutwirth brought Cowichan within a single goal with 7:32 remaining in the third period.
Loewen and Linden Makow added singles to give the Spruce Kings their third straight victory.
Cowichan outshot PG 37-23 but went 0-for-5 on the power-play while the Spruce Kings went 0-for-1.
Gravel stopped 35 of 37 Capitals shots to be named the game’s first start. Roest turned aside 18 pucks on 22 opportunities
PG (16-20-3-1) move withing five points of the Langley Rivermen (17-17-6-1) for the final playoff spot in the Coastal Conference with a game in hand.
The Spruce Kings travel to Nanaimo to play the Clippers tonight (Saturday) from the Frank Crane Arena. Nanaimo blanked the Powell River Kings 3-0 on Friday.
Speaking of Langley, the Rivermen welcome the Alberni Valley Bulldogs this evening (Saturday) and followed by a Sunday matchup against Cowichan.
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