Game Review vs Cowichan Valley Capitals

VS
2                                       Final Score                                       5
Stoglin, Basilico	Goal Scorers	Domin, Verrall, Santerno, Burton
41	Total Shots	23
13	1st Period Shots	4
13	2nd Period Shots	13
15	3rd Period Shots	6
1 for 5	Power Play	1 for 3
1-5-0-1	Current Record	4-1-0-1

In a chance to redeem themselves after getting steamrolled at home by Wenatchee, the Prince George Spruce Kings put in a much better effort in a 5-2 loss to the Cowichan Valley Capitals. As the stats above show, PG dominated in shots, but just couldn’t get enough pucks past Storm Phaneuf of the Capitals.

Entering the game, both teams were heading in opposite directions. The Spruce Kings started the season 0-4, but then earned three of a possible four points at the BCHL Showcase. Cowichan Valley started the season 3-0, but then lost both games at the showcase, including a game they led 3-0, but wound up losing 4-3 in double overtime.

            Prince George got off to a good start, as Cooper Prechel knocked down a clearing attempt at centre, and then sprung Rider Stoglin who raced down the right side and beat Phaneuf for his first goal of the season. The Spruce Kings would dominate the rest of the first, and wound up leading in shots 13-4 at the end of one.

            In the second Cowichan Valley got things rolling on offence. It started when they went on their first power play of the game, and Jared Domin scored to tie the game up. Five minutes later Ben Verrall got another one for the Capitals to take their first lead of the game.

The third started to go downhill for the Spruce Kings, as Luke Santerno came down on a two on one, and snapped one past Tanguay to put the Capitals up by two. Then in what seemed like fate, the home team got a power play. Heading in they were 1 for 33, and last in the league for that category. Just thirteen seconds in though, Corey Hoffman found Bryan Basilico in the slot, and he fired home the one timer for his first goal in a Spruce Kings uniform. That brought the score within one, but it’s as close as Prince George would get. Thunder Bay native, Ryan Burton would add two more goals including an empty netter to seal the game, and finish the game at 5-3.

Turning Point:

At the end of the 1^st period, the Spruce Kings earned a power play, and had numerous chances to double their lead to 2-0. They couldn’t convert though, and were unsuccessful in the second half of the man advantage in the second period. Instead of doubling their lead, Prince George lost the momentum, and Cowichan Valley would eventually score three answered (including two in the second).

Special Teams:

Entering the game, the Spruce Kings were last in the league for power play success, and second last in penalty kill. They managed a PPG, but also let one in one the penalty kill. In the past three games, Prince George has allowed a goal shorthanded on their first kills of each game.

New Faces:

For four Spruce Kings players, Friday marked their first games in the palace as members of the home team. Sam Tanguay started in net, and had a good game in front of the home crowd. Rylan Bechtel went up against his old team, Jarod Hovde played a solid game and had a very strong first period in particular, and Bryan Basilico scored the team’s first power play goal since Jake LeBrun had one against the Surrey Eagles. Tomorrow against the Penticon Vees Matthew Stief will slot into the lineup for the first time this season. He played for the team last year, but it’ll be game since coming back from playing for the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL.