The Spruce Kings weren’t out of their depth against the top team in the BCHL’s Coastal Conference.
They just couldn’t buy a tying a goal when it mattered most.
Down starting goaltender Charles-Edward Gravel (sickness) and overage defenseman Trent Ballentyne to injury, the Prince George Spruce Kings scratched and clawed with the Chilliwack Chiefs but fell 3-1 on Saturday in front of 970 fans at the Kopar Memorial Arena.
Lucas Sorace’s point shot from inside the PG blueline blew past goaltender Ben Polhill, which turned out to be the game-winner for the Chiefs.
Sorace skated past Spruce Kings rookie forward Cooper Williams at the blue line before letting go off the puck.
Saturday’s hard-fought contest was a splinting image of the night prior (Chiefs won 6-4) with a little less sloppy play.
Carter Hesselgrave put the Spruce Kings into the driver’s seat at 2:24 of the first period, where on a penalty kill, outskated Chiefs forward Mateo Mrsic and stripped netminder Quentin Miller of the puck before tucking it under the Montreal Canadians prospect for a 1-0 lead.
Mrsic made up for the earlier gaffe as he screamed down into enemy ice picking up a hot pass from Nathan Morin, moving forehand to backhand past an outstretched Polhill.
Prince George had their chances to take control of the game in the second period but failed to score on a Adam Kral double minor for high-sticking, which drew blood from overage forward Owen Goodbrand.
A hooking infraction from Sorace kept the Spruce Kings on the man-advantage but were unable to penetrate much towards the Chilliwack net.
Olivier Beaulier stuck the dagger into the Spruce Kings hearts at 11:43 of the third period as his point shot deflected off a stick and past Polhill.
Ex-Prince George Cougar Arjun Bawa was named the game’s first star, collecting a pair of assists in the win.
Chilliwack was 0-for-4 on the power-play while the Spruce Kings (17-22-3-1) went goalless in five tries.
The Chiefs (29-9-5) outshot PG 27-24.
With the loss, the Spruce Kings remain four points back of the Langley Rivermen for the last playoff spot in the Coastal Conference. Langley (17-19-7-1) hosts the Surrey Eagles (25-14-3-0) tomorrow (Sunday) at 2:30 from the George Preston Arena.
PG is back in action Thursday in Coquitlam (22-14-4-2) against the Express, starting a three-game road swing.
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