PRINCE GEORGE, BC – Nick Poisson added to his team leading point totals with a goal and an assist, but the Spruce Kings dropped their second game in a row by a 5-2 score against the Merritt Centennials in front of 1349 fans at the RMCA.
1st Period:
PG: At 14:28 of the period, a point shot from Nick Bochen was redirected by Haydn Delorme who scored his second of the year to give the Spruce Kings the lead. Bochen and Nick Poisson had the two helpers on the Delorme marker.
SHOTS: 12-7 Prince George
2nd Period:
MER: Rylan Van Unen got the puck in the neutral zone and took the puck and cut into the middle of the slot and slid through the legs of Carter Woodside to tie the game at one. Talon Zakall and Jerzy Orchard had the helpers on Van Unen’s 13th of the year at 5:53.
MER: At 6:18, the Centennials got another one as Evan Benwell got the puck on the left wing in the attacking zone and cut through three different Spruce Kings and then out waited Woodside and hammered it home to give the Centennials the lead. The Benwell tally comes at 6:18 from Jake McLean and Chase Cooke.
MER: At 11:43, Hunor Torszok got the puck in the high slot and ripped it by Woodside to give the Centennials a 3-1 lead. Payton Matsui and Chase Cooke had the helpers on Torszok’s 15th of the season.
PG: At 19:06, Fin Williams forced a turnover and and got a shot to the goal, and Nick Poisson was able to tap home the rebound and put the Spruce Kings within one. Williams and Nolan Welsh had the helpers on Poisson’s 21st of the year.
SHOTS: 12-4 Prince George
3rd Period:
MER: At 8:44 of the period, Payton Matsui tipped home the Talon Zakall point shot past Woodside to make the game 4-2. The power-play marker was Matsui’s 14th of the season
MER: Payton Matsui took away the pass in the defensive zone and took the puck into the attacking zone and found Torszok in the back door and put it by Woodside to make it 5-2. The shorthanded tally came at 10:49 of the third. Matsui and Brody Johnston had the helpers.
SHOTS: 12-8 Prince George
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Final Score: Prince George 2 Merritt 5
Final Shots: 36-19 Prince George
Carter Woodside: 14/19 saves for Prince George (6-8-1)
Ryan Winter: 34/36 saves for Merritt (4-18-1)
Prince George Power-Play: 0/3
Merritt Power-Play: 1/2
3 Stars:
- Hunor Torzsok (MER 2 G)
- Ryan Winter (MER 36 SV)
- Payton Matsui (MER 1 G 2 A)
Fortis BC Energy Player of The Game:
Talon Zakall (MER 2 A)
Next Spruce Kings Game: On the road Tuesday night against the Chilliwack Chiefs at the Chilliwack Coliseum
QUOTES:
“I thought we were too individualistic tonight. Our effort I don’t think was there and we need to be better. You have to credit Merritt, they executed their game plan tonight. ” Spruce Kings Associate Coach Colin Minardi
NOTES:
- Merritt snaps a 14 game losing streak
- Nick Poisson has points in his last three games
- Nick Bochen played his 100th career BCHL Game
