Venue: Weyerhaeuser Arena
Game Time: Saturday January 7th @ 7pm
After a good end to 2016 with a pair of OT wins, the Spruce Kings are now in search of their first victory of 2017.
Last night against the Powell River Kings, the Spruce Kings didn’t quite start their road trip off a great note. The final score read 10-4, and the team was in it right up until late in the second, but four unanswered goals turned the game from 6-4 to 10-4.
There were a pair of bright spots though to take away from the night. On the power play Prince George was two for three, with Tyler Anderson and Chong Lee connecting. On his recent scoring rampage (after three goals last weekend) Anderson outwaited the Kings on the man advantage, and picked the top right corner tying the game at one in the first period. Lee finished off a wonderful passing play in the second to make the score 6-3, with Ben Poisson scoring shortly after to get the Spruce Kings within one. Also in the second period, newcomer Bryan Allbee scored his first goal as a Prince George Spruce Kings. He made his debut last week in front of family, and setup the Anderson game winner in double overtime. Allbee found twine against the Powell River Kings as Anderson and Brett Mennear pushed the puck up the right wall, and Mennear was able to feed it back to Allbee. The former Seattle Thunderbird walked in from the left point, and beat Mitch Adamyk for his first BCHL goal.
Tonight will mark the second meeting between Prince George and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The first match up north was heavily skewed in the Spruce Kings favour as the team won 8-0 in dominant fashion. Alberni was outshot 53-17, and Prince George had a pair of goals from Connor Russell and Tyler Anderson. The Spruce Kings were two for eight on the man advantage while the Bulldogs were unable to convert on five opportunities.
Prince George has scored 11 goals in the last two games, but has also allowed 16.
BROADCAST LINKS
WATCH on HockeyTV
LISTEN on Mixlr
STANDINGS:
The Langley Rivermen are on the rise, and the Spruce Kings need to keep up in order to stay in a fight for third. With their loss, and a Langley win over the Island leading Victoria Grizzlies, the Rivermen now sit one point ahead of Prince George for third in the Mainland Division, but have played one extra game.
On the island, the Bulldogs are fighting to get back in the playoff picture. They are five points behind the Nanaimo Clippers right now for fourth in the division, and are coming off a big 5-1 win on Wednesday over the Cowichan Valley Capitals who are 11 points up now in the standings.
WHO TO WATCH:
PRINCE GEORGE:
Connor Russell – DEF: He had two goals the last time these two teams met, and a performance like that would do wonders for Prince George tonight. They also need him to be strong in the defensive, and you can imagine the team will attempt to clamp down in front of Tavin Grant after the team allowed 10 goals last night.
Brett Mennear – FWD: He has put the team on his back before, and he may need to do so again to cap off this road trip. He had one goal and three assists in the last game with Alberni Valley, and last night had one helper against Powell River. With Tanner Campbell and Kyle Johnson out due to injury the team is missing some firepower up front, and losing Jamie Huber before the break didn’t help either.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Spruce Kings @ Nanaimo Clippers – Sunday January 8th, 2pm – Frank Crane Arena
Spruce Kings vs Vernon Vipers – Wednesday January 11th, 7pm – Rolling Mix Concrete Arena
Spruce Kings vs Chilliwack Chiefs – Friday January 13th, 7pm – Rolling Mix Concrete Arena
