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Game Preview: February 20th vs Langley Rivermen

Venue: George Preston Arena, Langley

Game Time: Monday February 20th @ 7:15pm

 

Three overtime games are currently sandwiched between a pair of Spruce Kings wins. The Prince George Spruce Kings (24-24-4-2) started the series winning 5-3 on home ice. The Langley Rivermen (28-18-6-2) would take the victory the following night in a tight checking 2-1 overtime win after a controversial goal to end the game. The Spruce Kings bounced back after the Christmas break winning both games at home in extra time, marking the first time they had won in overtime in over two seasons. Then in their first game in the newly renovated George Preston Arena Prince George went down 1-0 early, but replied with five straight goals eventually taking the game 5-2.

All three games this season have been very close, and the most recent was the largest deficit in goals. Last season the Rivermen swept the season series winning all seven games, but this year it’s Prince George who has won four of the five contests. The lone loss came in overtime, and with two games left the Spruce Kings have every opportunity to earn points in all seven games.

Winning last night 3-2 in overtime should give the visitors a big boost tonight in Langley, as Prince George hadn’t defeated the Chilliwack Chiefs in the Prospera Centre for nearly three years. If Prince George can win tonight, they’ll also break another lengthy drought. The team hasn’t sweep a roadtrip of two games or more since September 27th-29th 2013 where they beat Coquitlam 3-2 and 4-3, and won against the Chilliwack Chiefs 2-1.

Langley is coming off a pair of thumpings at the hands of the now Mainland champions Wenatchee Wild. Night one wielded a 10-2 defeat, and the second had the Wild winning 6-1. The Rivermen had won three in a row after falling to Prince George to start the month of February, but have now lost their last three with a 4-3 overtime loss against the Chilliwack Chiefs where they led 3-0 going to the third. In all seven games during February, there have been at least a combined seven goals in all the games.

On a milestone watch, Brett Mennear picked up two assists last night, and is now one away from 100 regular season assists in his career. He has four games to accomplish the feat.

 

BROADCAST LINKS

WATCH on HockeyTV

LISTEN on Mixlr

 

STANDINGS:

Flashback to the end of 2016, and after a pair of overtime wins the Langley Rivermen were one point behind the Prince George Spruce Kings for third in the Mainland Division. Thanks to an  eight game winning streak though in January, the Blue Boys were able to clinch third place last weekend, and these final two games are less hyped up as they may have been.

With the overtime loss last night, the Chilliwack Chiefs are set to finish the season second in the Mainland Division, meaning the Wenatchee Wild have clinched first place in both the division, and the BCHL. This is just the Wild’s second season in the league after coming over from the NAHL.

 

WHO TO WATCH:

PRINCE GEORGE:

Brett Mennear – FWD:  Leading the scoring this season against the Rivermen is the Spruce Kings captain. Mennear currently sits at 99 career assists in the regular season, and would surely like to hit the century mark sooner rather than later. With seven assists in his last three games it’s hard to believe he won’t hit the milestone. In five games against Langley this season he has four goals and six assists for ten points.

Sam De Melo – DEF: With Connor Russell out due to injury, De Melo is a player that will be expected to much some more minutes in the weeks to come. He doesn’t have a goal in 24 games, and a point in nine. The sophmore defenseman is a staple on the penalty, which once again he’ll get more time on with Russell out. The Spruce Kings have three defensemen ageing out at the end of this season (Anderson, Burnett, Russell) and this is a prime opportunity for some of the other players on the backend to step up and show they can handle more of a load next season.

LANGLEY:

Brendan Budy – FWD: The youngest member of the Langley roster has been one of the most potent producers against Prince George this season. His four points in five games has him tied for McKay Flanagan in the team lead, and he was the first player to score in the last meeting with Prince George. The Denver commit has slowed down a tad the last few games with one point in his last three games.

Cameron Ginnetti – DEF: Ginnetti seems to be a mystery when it comes to the Spruce Kings. In 48 games against other teams the defenseman has 54 points, but in five matches with Prince George he has just one assist. He’s the leader is points amongst blueliners in the BCHL, seven ahead of Tyler Anderson who sits in third.

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

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

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

Spruce Kings @ Chilliwack Chiefs – Sunday February 26th, 5pm – Prospera Centre

Langley