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GAME PREVIEW: February 19th vs Chilliwack Chiefs

Venue: Prospera Centre, Chilliwack

Game Time: Sunday February 19th @ 5:00pm

 

The Prince George Spruce Kings (23-24-4-2) won the first meeting this season against the Chilliwack Chiefs (40-10-5-0), but since then the Chiefs have dominated winning five straight, with one of those in overtime.

On home ice this season, Chilliwack has been stellar with the second best winning percentage only behind Wenatchee who haven’t lost a game in regulation. The Chiefs are 22-3-1-0 on home ice, and have won 10 straight games in the Prospera Centre against the Prince George Spruce Kings. That streak runs back to the end of the 2013/14 season where the Spruce Kings won 5-4 in overtime on February 22nd 2014.

Special teams have been the factor in the majority of the games with the winner of the power play/penalty kill winning the game all but once in the five meetings.

Prince George begins a roadtrip on a Sunday for the first time this season, and will play their first Monday game of the year tomorrow. Last weekend was a doubleheader that saw the team split against the Surrey Eagles winning 6-2 the first night, and falling 6-4 the next. Kyle Johnson led all scorers with two goals and five assists in the two games. In the last meeting with Chilliwack, Johnson had his first career hat-trick with Tanner Campbell picking up helpers on all three.

Chilliwack is on a current 10 game winning streak, with the franchise record set at 12. If they can beat PG tonight, and Penticton next week, they can set the record in the final game of the year against the Spruce Kings.

Scratches may come into play tonight as well with the Spruce Kings missing a few key bodies. Goalie Tavin Grant is still out with a lower body injury, while top-six forwards Tanner Campbell, Chong Hyun Lee, and Ethan de Jong are also sidelined. With the defense core healthy, the team has called up Chong Min Lee to play up front. In three games this season the younger brother of Chong Hyun Lee has one goal. Prince George has also called up netminder Donovan Buskey from the Vancouver NW Giants of the BCMML.

 

BROADCAST LINKS

WATCH on HockeyTV

LISTEN on Mixlr

 

STANDINGS:

The Chilliwack Chiefs need to pickup five of a possible six points in their last three games, and have the Wenatchee Wild lose both of their final two games in Langley to pass them for first in the Mainland division. The Wild are coming off a pair of wallopings they gave to Langley, so it may be safe to say that Chilliwack will play Langley in the first round this year.

While Prince George can’t move in the standings, beating a top team like Chilliwack would do well for their confidence heading into the playoffs against the top ranked Wild.

 

WHO TO WATCH:

PRINCE GEORGE:

Kyle Johnson – FWD:  A hat-trick was the damage dealt by Kyle Johnson in the last meeting with Chilliwack. Along with former Chiefs player Tanner Campbell and Burnaby Winter Club callup Ryan Stack, the trio combined for eight points in the game. Johnson followed that up with another stellar performance last weekend against Surrey collecting seven points in two games.

Connor Russell – DEF: Saturday ended a goal drought that had made it’s way to 29 games. Russell had been scoring at a good rate up to mid-November, where he had 7 goals in 24 games. With 8 goals now, he is one of the players to watch for to hit double digits in goals before the season comes to an end. He was recently named the Most Improved player this season at the Spruce Kings awards banquet.

CHILLIWACK:

Jake Smith – FWD: It’s not Jordan Kawaguchi, it’s Jake Smith who leads all Chiefs in scoring against Prince George this season. Playing in his 56th game tonight, the breakout forward was far and away passed his 56 game total last season where he had 25 points last year, compared to 58 this year. Smith even has more goals (32) than he had points last season.

Anthony Vincent – FWD: With zero points against the Spruce King this season, Vincent is the only player with three games or more against Prince George not to have a point. With Chilliwack scoring at a high rate, look for them to try and get Vincent on the board.

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Spruce Kings @ Langley Rivermen – Monday February 22nd, 7:15pm – George Preston Arena

Spruce Kings @ Coquitlam Express – Friday February 24th, 7pm – Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre

Spruce Kings @ Langley Rivermen – Saturday February 25th, 6pm – George Preston Arena

Chilliwack