Eagles Nip Spruce Kings in OT

Shayne Morrissey (12) scored both goals for Prince George,
but that wasn't enough for the Spruce Kings Saturday night

Overtime has not been friendly to the Prince George Spruce Kings lately and the extra session bit them again Saturday night as the Surrey Eagles skated to a 3-2 win at the Coliseum.

Devon Toews did the damage in overtime as the Eagles swept the two-game set this weekend, taking both their victories in overtime and opening up a two-point lead over the Spruce Kings for second place in the Mainland Division.

The Spruce Kings have gone into overtime four times in the month of November and have yet to pull out an extra-time win, with three of the four losses coming at the hands of the Eagles.

Two goals by Shayne Morrissey helped the Spruce Kings get to overtime and the team has recorded at least one point in four of its last five outings.

Morrissey, who was named the Treasure Trove Casino first star, opened the scoring for Prince George at 7:21 of the first period on a nice set up from Jeremiah Luedtke and Chad Staley. The Spruce Kings generated a turnover in the high slot in the Surrey end and with some nifty passing were able to beat Eagles goalie Michael Santaguida.

The home side's only lead of the night was short lived as on the very next shift the Eagles top line sliced through the Spruce Kings defences with Brady Shaw finishing off the play set up by Drew Best and Brett Mulcahy at 7:42.

The teams went into the locker-room tied 1-1 after 20 minutes and the Eagles appeared to be the fresher team in the second taking the play to Prince George and taking the lead as well. Best had the lone goal in the middle stanza, taking a feed from Mulchay on the power play at 8:30 and beating Spruce Kings netminder Kirk Thompson. Mulchay was named the game's third star.

The Eagles scored a power-play goal in each of their wins this weekend, while the Spruce Kings power play was shut out.

Morrissey got the Spruce Kings back on even terms at 2:35 of the third, scoring his eighth of the season once again set up by Staley and Luedtke. With his two assists, Staley earned second-star honours.

Neither team was able to find the go-ahead marker in regulation, but Toews did have a few chances for the Eagles. He finally found the back of the net in overtime with a rocket from the point which beat Thompson.

Santaguida made 29 saves to earn his second win in as many nights, while Thompson blocked 22 shots - many of them of the difficult variety - in a losing cause.

Spruce Kings forward Ryan Keis earned the Fortis Energy player of the game, while speedy Prince George winger Coltyn Hansen was named the Dairy Queen player of the game.

The Spruce Kings will continue their seven-game homestand on Thursday night when the division-leading Chilliwack Chiefs make their first visit to the Castle. Chilliwack is in town for a pair of games.