Playoff Game Preview: Game 3 vs Chilliwack Chiefs

NOW IT’S A BEST OF THREE SERIES

A Physical Series is Now a Best of Three

This Mainland Divisional Semi-Final series shifts to Prince George as a best of three affair after the teams split games one and two in Chilliwack on the weekend. The Spruce Kings won the first game Friday night with Chilliwack tying the series the following night.

Friday night’s game was a close one with neither team able to find the first goal of the series until Cameron Lawson did at 16:43 of the second period. Lawson redirected a David Stephens shot while on the Spruce Kings were on the power play. From there Coltyn Hansen added a pair in the third period as the Spruce Kings took game one with a 3-1 win.

The following night was the complete opposite with the Chilliwack Chiefs finding the net early and often to the tune of a 10-1 win. The score was really immaterial as the game was marred by a parade to the penalty box leaving many to speculate what that means for game four tonight.

Scores aside, both teams know what worked for them and where they can make improvements in this pivotal game of the series. A win tonight will give that team a huge advantage in the series with a chance to close it out on Tuesday night.

The other series in the Mainland Division is also down to a best of three with the Langley Rivermen taking over home ice advantage on the Surrey Eagles after a 1-0 win on Saturday night. On Friday night, the Surrey Eagles posted a 2-0 win to open that series.

The top team in the Island Division, the Victoria Grizzlies find themselves in Powell River with that series tied 1-1. On Friday night the Grizzlies won 6-2 while the Kings of the Island Division won 3-1 on Saturday night.

The Nanaimo Clippers are the first team on the verge of advancing to the second round after taking both games on home ice over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, 4-3 and then 3-2 in overtime.

The Interior Conference is playing best of seven series with only two matchups on that side of the playoff bracket. The Penticton Vees head to Salmon Arm for game three tonight with a 2-0 series lead after beating the Silverbacks 4-2 on both Friday and Saturday night.

The other Interior Division matchup has the West Kelowna Warriors leading the Merritt Centennials 2-0 after a big opening night 6-1 win and a 3-2 overtime decision on Saturday night.

The game tonight in the Prince George Coliseum has a 7pm faceoff and is expected to be well attended. For those unable to be in the Castle tonight, the game will be broadcast on 93.1 CFIS-FM beginning with a pregame show at 6:35pm. The game will also be available online with a free audio webcast on the Spruce Kings MIXLR.com channel and a pay-per-view video broadcast on FASTHOCKEY.com.