Spruce Kings Fall Into Christmas

1                                        Final Score                                        5
Hoffman	Goal Scorers	Saharchuk, White, Masson, Schuldt, O’Neill
35	Total Shots	45
18	1st Period Shots	17
6	2nd Period Shots	17
11	3rd Period Shots	11
0 for 5	Power Play	0 for 1
	3rd Star	Zac Masson
	2nd Star	Nickolas Trenciansky
	1st Star	Dominic Franco
9-26-0-2	Current Record	21-13-0-1

Prince George once again started the scoring, but couldn’t keep the tide rolling back in the Mainland.

A night after taking down the Cowichan Valley Capitals 3-0, the Spruce Kings again scored the first goal of the game, but allowed Langley to score the next five to take a 5-1 win on home ice.

It took just about fifteen minutes for either team to break the scoreless draw, and that was courtesy of Corey Hoffman. Taking a pass from Burnaby Winter Club callup Ethan De Jong, Hoffman walked to the bottom of the left faceoff circle, and sniped the puck into the top left corner over the shoulder of Nickolas Trenciansky.

After a 29 save shutout the night before, Sam Tanguay had a busy first period, and just about made it out unscathed, until Matty Saharchuk was able to bat a rebound out of mid-air, and past Tanguay.

Turning Point: Instead of heading to the first intermission with the lead, the Spruce Kings allowed a goal with 1:17 left in the first giving Langley life.

            The second period didn’t feature any goals, until the Rivermen were able to strike twice in the final five minutes with the home team also scoring with 24 seconds left to take a 3-1 lead into the third.

            The final frame would prove to be no better for the Spruce Kings, as Langley scored twice more to take the final by a score of 5-1.

In the first and second, PG had two power plays each, and were also shutout on their lone chance in the third. The Spruce Kings are now 0 for their last 23 power play attempts stretching back the final two power plays against the Coquitlam Express on December 3^rd. 

Tanguay Shuts Out Capitals

VS
3                                        Final Score                                        0
Hovde, Basilico, Ponak	Goal Scorers
32	Total Shots	29
10	1st Period Shots	8
14	2nd Period Shots	13
8	3rd Period Shots	8
0 for 7	Power Play	0 for 2
Jarod Hovde	3rd Star
Bryan Basilico	2nd Star
Sam Tanguay	1st Star
9-25-0-2	Current Record	18-13-2-3

            For two teams that don’t see each other often, the Spruce Kings had a very chippy game against the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Heading into the game on a four game losing streak, and coming off a 9-1 loss the night before Prince George had a handful against the Capitals who sit 2^nd in the Island.

Turning Point: After two goals in the last two games, the Spruce Kings needed some offence, and they got that 47 seconds in courtesy of Jarod Hovde. On a two on one alongside Nick Guerra, Hovde came down the left side, and fired a puck over the glove of Lane Michasiw to take the early lead.

The Spruce Kings would earn a five minute power play in the frame, but were unable to capitalize, and it got cut down to a total of three minutes after Tilsley took a penalty himself.

In the second it was Owings coming down, and ringing one off the cross bar for the Capitals which would prove to be costly as Bryan Basilico came down on a two on one minutes later, and like Hovde elected to shot, also beating Michasiw. Adam Osczevski broke down on a breakaway seconds after the game, but it was Tanguay coming up with another big save.

The third had a number of defensive highlights from the Spruce Kings. The Capitals would have had a three on one, but Basilico dove out while against the boards to break the play up. Three minutes later he almost made the score 3-0 as he went down on a shorthanded breakaway, but couldn’t beat Michasiw for the second time of the night. Brubacher was firing bombs from the point all night long, and finally broke through as Nic Ponak tipped a shot in front to make it 3-0 Spruce Kings with five minutes remaining.

Things continued getting chippier, as Kade Kehoe took a two minute penalty after a play, but wouldn’t go to the box so he was tossed out of the game. With their leading scorer out of the lineup, the Capitals were unable to break through, and Tanguay collected 29 saves for his first shutout of the season in a 3-0 victory.

GAME NOTES: The Spruce Kings snapped a four game losing streak with the win --- The shutout was the team’s first of the season --- Of the five goals scored this season against Cowichan, Basilico was involved in three (2G/1A) --- Jarod Hovde’s goal was his first GWG in the BCHL --- Prince George has now been shutout five games in a row on the power play --- PG’s first win against Cowichan in two years

Kings Look to End Four Game Skid

VS
8-25-0-2	Record	18-12-2-3
80 (17th)	Goals For	126 (7th)
159 (T-15th)	Goals Against	113 (8th)
17.39% (16th)	Power Play	19.25 (11th)
74.34% (15th)	Penalty Kill	79.27 (10th)

Venue: Island Savings Centre

Game Time: 7pm

Season Series:  Spruce Kings lost 5-2 at home to the Capitals

 Game Overview:

After a win to start the month of December, it has been a downhill spiral for the Spruce Kings. They’re now on a four game losing streak being outscored 27-7 in those four meetings. The last setback was a 9-2 loss to the Nanaimo Clippers. Prince George looked solid in the first period, but had three goals against on seven shots, and then in the third they allowed five goals. Cowichan Valley is second in the Island Division only behind the Clippers, and while they may not have the fire power that Prince George has faced in the last few games against Chilliwack and Nanaimo, but they are still a force to be reckoned with. The Capitals are coming off a 6-1 win over Alberni Valley last night.

Prince George Away Record: 3-14-0-2

Spruce Kings Leading Scorer: Adam Brubacher: 12 goals – 17 assists – 29 points

Cowichan Valley Home Record: 10-3-1-1

Capitals Leading Scorer: Kade Kehoe: 12 goals – 24 assists – 36 points

Player to watch:

Spruce Kings: Last night the line of Jordan Funk and the two Richmond Sockeyes callups (Arjun Badh and Noah Wozney) was possibly the most effective of any line. In their first shift they drew a penalty, and created a few chances throughout the game. With a game now under their belts, look for the Sockeyes+Funk to maybe break onto the scoresheet, and generate some energy on the Spruce Kings bench.

Capitals: Tied for the team lead in shorthanded goals, Patrick Geary is a player Prince George will need to lookout for. The Spruce Kings have allowed a league high 11 shorthanded goals, and have been shutout in the last four games on the power play. Last night Geary had a goal and an assist vs Alberni Valley.

Broadcast Info: For all games, you can listen to the action on Mixlr

 or watch live at BCHL FASTHockey