Game Preview: at Cowichan Valley Capitals

The Spruce Kings will be looking to the Capitals
to get themselves back in the win column tonight

Last night the Spruce Kings were mauled by the Grizzlies in a game that ended with a score that wasn't indicative of the play or chances - especially through the first two periods of play. But that is nothing more than a consolation prize today as the team finds themselves one point back of the Surrey Eagles and second place in the Mainland Division.

The Spruce Kings manufactured a number of good scoring chances and found the iron no less than five times including three times in the first period and a couple of breakaway chances as well. Offensively the team came up empty on the score sheet and will need to recalibrate their sticks when they head under the big stick tonight to take on the Cowichan Valley Capitals.

The host team tonight knows all to well the feeling of coming up empty on the wrong side of a good effort. A week ago in Prince George these two teams met in a tightly contested game that the Spruce Kings won 3-1 with an empty net goal late to give the Prince George fans relief from sitting on the edge of their seats all night.

In that previous meeting the teams split twenty shots each in a scoreless opening period. Jeremiah Luedtke opened the scoring early in the second and Tanner Fjellstrom added another before the midway mark on the powerplay. The Capitals had their chances and cut the lead in half before the end of the second period setting up a nerve wracking finale that ended with Coltyn Hansen scoring into the empty net.

The Capitals were the road weary team on that night and will be the well rested team tonight after having the night off to scout and prepare for the Prince George Spruce Kings. This one is a tough one to call because certainly both teams will want to be making a statement. The Capitals will be looking to even the season series and provide a win for the home fans before the Christmas break while the Spruce Kings will be looking for an answer from the night before and a chance to head back to the mainland with momentum before playing the Surrey Eagles.

The Capitals have played the least amount of games in the League and had all week off to prepare for their rematch with the Spruce Kings. They will have a few more holes filled in their lineup with the biggest addition being Keyler Bruce who has now served his two game suspension for a major blow to the head penalty. Bruce's physical presence will be interesting to watch as it could turn into an adrenaline rush or nervous trepidation to avoid further discipline issues.

One week ago the Capitals were also without the services of Ryan Coghlan and their leading scorer Mikael Jung who is still not ready to go. The Spruce Kings have a decision to make as far who they will scratch tonight. Lyndon Martell is the only for sure scratch as he is at home recovering but after that the team is basically healthy. Spencer Schoech is expected to get his first game in as a regular rostered player leaving head coach Dave Dupas to make the tough decision of who to sit tonight as a healthy scratch.

The game tonight is a 7pm start from the Island Savings Centre in Duncan and will be broadcast live on 93.1 CFIS-FM. There will also be a free online audio only broadcast of the game from the Spruce Kings MIXLR channel and the pay-per-view feed from FASTHOCKEY.com.