Venue: Town Toyota Center
Game Time: Saturday January 21st @ 7pm
For a 6-2 loss, the game may not have been so lopsided. Last night the Prince George Spruce Kings surrendered a goal 14 seconds in, and you can bet that tonight they’ll come out with a better start.
The Spruce Kings are still looking for their first win in the Town Toyota Centre since the Wild expanded into the BCHL. Outscored 18-4 this season in three games, and 11-4 last year in the same number of games playing in the South has not been kind. PG hasn’t scored more than two goals in a game, and last night the team hit that number, but was helped by a failed Devin Cooley clearing attempt that Chong Lee took advantage of snapping into an empty net. Brett Mennear found the team’s other marker taking a perfect pass from Ben Brar and going upstairs against Cooley on the breakaway.
Once positive the Spruce Kings can take from last night is that they were able to solve the Wild netminder. He had a two game shutout streak, and in the game before that streak only allowed one goal. There seemed to be a number of rebounds against the goalie last night, and if PG can get to those pucks that have a chance to pop them in up high with Cooley diving out for most of those pucks.
BROADCAST LINKS
WATCH on HockeyTV
LISTEN on Mixlr
STANDINGS:
Prince George didn’t get much help around the BCHL last night with there being really only one game of importance. That was the Langley Rivermen against the last place Coquitlam Express, and it was Langley taking the two points after a 6-2 win of their own. The decision puts them four points ahead of Prince George for third in the Mainland, and they also hold a game in hand. Their lead may be even more key now due to the team’s final seven games. They play league leading Wenatchee four times, power house Chilliwack once, and the Prince George Spruce Kings twice. If Prince George can win both of their head-to-heads they can hope that the league powerhouses will go to work as well.
Up in the clouds of the Mainland Division are Chilliwack and Wenatchee. The Wild hold a seven point lead with both teams still having 14 games left in their schedules. Both met in the Mainland final last year, and with the Wild’s dominant home record, they would love to have that advantage right through the playoffs.
WHO TO WATCH:
PRINCE GEORGE:
Kyle Johnson – FWD: This season agaisnt the Wild, Johnson has two assists to his credit with both of them coming in the same game. Following a five game point streak that he ended 2016 with, the Port Moody forward hasn’t gotten a point in the year of 2017. His six game point drought is a career high, and Prince George will need him to generate some offense the way he knows how tonight.
Tyler Anderson – DEF: It’s his 21st birthday today, and 200th regular season game tonight. Anderson was a target for the Wild players last night as they took every advantage to get under the skin of the defenseman who leads the league in goals with 16. Besides a penalty, he didn’t hit the score sheet last night, and the Wild did a good job of covering him for any point shots. Look for the Spruce Kings to find a way to open him up tonight.
WENATCHEE:
Charlie Combs – FWD: Three goals last night, and Charlie Combs broke out of his scoring slump. The forward led the league in goals heading in, but had scored just one goal in his last seven games. He scored in each period last night, and upped his season total to 42 goals in 44 games. This year against Prince George, he has 10 goals and four assists in six games.
Brendan Harris – FWD: The second member of the dangerous duo was at it again last night. Three assists, but Harris could have had more as he used his speed and sweet hands to create chances throughout the game. He leads the league in assists (60), points (78), and shorthanded points (8).
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Spruce Kings @ Merritt Centennials – Friday January 27th, 7pm – Nicola Valley Memorial Arena
Spruce Kings @ Salmon Arm Silverbacks – Saturday January 28th, 7pm – Shaw Centre
Spruce Kings @ Vernon Vipers- Sunday January 29th, 7pm – Kal Tire Place
