Checkmate

Nothing was working Friday night for Prince George

The Prince George Spruce Kings were pinned inside their own end for most of the game, coming up empty to start the 2013 portion of their 2012/13 season after a 2-0 lose to the Powell River Kings. The Spruce Kings did get another stellar performance from Kirk Thompson, but this time that wasn't enough to pick up any points in the rematch of this season's Battle Royale.

On October 12th, it was the Spruce Kings that came up victorious on home ice and defeated the Powell River Kings 2-1. This night it was a case of two completely different teams especially when compared to their last games. As we know, the Spruce Kings finished off before Christmas with a 2-0 win over the Surrey Eagles and as for the Powell River Kings, they were embarrassed on home ice.

Prior to the game, Kings head coach and general manager held back nothing in an interview for the Spruce Kings broadcast. Lewis admitted that his team looked terrible and basically didn't show up for their first game after the Christmas break. Lewis went on to say that he wasn't impressed with his current squad and made it clear he wouldn't be afraid or hold back on pulling the trigger on or before the trade deadline.

That message along with whatever else was added in the dressing room hit home with his squad who carried the play for the entire game. In the first period especially the Powell River Kings didn't let up on the Spruce Kings and peppered Thompson with 21 shots, of which one made it into the back of the net. The Spruce Kings on the other hand were only credited with two shots, one in the first minute and one much later on in the period.

The Powell River Kings showed no remorse on their visitors and were rewarded with a second goal in the second period. The Spruce Kings did try and change the tide but the damage was already done and they couldn't get anything to go for them. The best chance of the game for Prince George came off the stick of Chad Staley who danced around two defenders and then cut hard to the net. In a veteran move, the rookie pulled the puck from his backhand to his forehand and tried to find the far side of the net but instead found the glove of Jonah Imoo.

Despite being credited with the game's first star, I didn't think that Imoo was tested that much but when he was he had the answer for his team posting his third shutout of the season. At the other end of the ice Kirk Thompson was making stellar saves all game long and robbed the Kings of sure goals twice in the first period when he came from out of nowhere to snatch the puck out of mid air. In the second period he made a soccer style saving diving across the net feet first and kicking the puck away before it could float into the back of the net.

The Spruce Kings will now get to sleep on it in Powell River before boarding the noon ferry to Comox and then over to Port Alberni to take on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The 'dogs were idle on Friday night and will be waiting for the Mainland Division royalty for their chance at redemption after losing 6-3 in Prince George on October 26th. The game will be broadcast live on 93.1 CFIS-FM, it will also be available for free online through the Spruce Kings MIXLR.com channel and as a pay-per-view broadcast on FASTHOCKEY.com. Game time Saturday night is 7:00pm.