2-1 OTL Keeps Prince George Winless Beyond Regulation

(Third star of the night Tavin Grant made 47 saves for the Spruce Kings, Photo By: Damon James Photography)

For the third time this season, the Spruce Kings were unable to find a goal after regulation. Games one and two ended in ties, but Thursday night against the Surrey Eagles they let one through for the first OT loss of their season.

The game started out strong, as just over five minutes in, Parker Colley was able to break past Trent Huitema, and go five hole on Michael Botiz. It was the first shot of the game for the Spruce Kings. The forward from Pitt Meadows had two goals and two assists when the Eagles were up in PG a few weeks ago in a double header. A little after the halfway mark of the frame, it was Liam Watson-Brawn heading to the penalty box, and the Spruce Kings were tasked with shutting down the leagues best power play which was 40% heading in. It didn’t take them long to convert as the team’s top goal scorer Darius Davidson potted his 12^th of the season. That would be the only time Surrey struck when up a man, as they wound up going 1-for-3 on the night.

A number of penalties piled up shortly later, as Surrey had two players in the box and the Spruce Kings had one. The way it ended up Prince George wound up with some time up two men, but were unable to capitalize, and Ashton Calder nearly made them pay as he stepped out of the box. The point per game forward was sprung on a breakaway, but got denied by Tavin Grant.

In the final two periods both team’s exchanged changes, but the goalies were both up to the task. The game would head to overtime where Prince George had two ties coming in, while the Eagles were 1-2. Four-on-four didn’t see any great chances, and the Spruce Kings were unable to get a shot while Surrey with a late flurry had three. Heading to three-on-three, it took nearly half the period for a shot to come, but Nick Merva made it count. After being ejected from the last meeting with Prince George less than 20 seconds into the game, the player that may have cost his team that game wound up playing hero. In the slot he took a feed from Desi Burgart, and wound up sending a shot to the left beat beating the blocker of Grant for the 2-1 OT victory.

Making 47 saves Grant was the third star of the game, Botiz with 33 was the second, and the overtime hero Minerva was the game’s first star.

Prince George is back in action tomorrow as they take on the Coquitlam Express at 7pm in the Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre.