In their last B.C. Hockey League road trip of the season, the Prince George Spruce Kings started and ended their three-day journey with a loss, but did manage to return home with an unlikely point.
Sunday afternoon in Coquitlam the Express sent the Kings home having beaten their Mainland Division rivals 4-1. Austin McIlmurray scored his 26th and 27th goals this season, including an empty-netter in the final minute, to guarantee the victory for the Express. Luca Leone and Owen Stout also scored for Coquitlam, which improved its record to 22-26-5-1.
Kyle Johnson broke up Lawson Fenton's shutout bid with 6:02 gone in the third period. Fenton made 28 saves while his team was outshot 29-19. Liam McCloskey took the loss in the Prince George nets.
That came less than 24 hours after the Spruce Kings were beaten 3-2 in overtime by the Wenatchee Wild (31-15-2-3). Troy Conzo scored 2:02 into OT to give the Wild its second straight win over the Spruce Kings, having beaten them 6-1 Friday night.
McCloskey was brilliant in goal, making 40 saves while his team was outshot 43-10.
After a scoreless first period, August Von Ungern opened the scoring for the Wild, 1:50 into the second period, and Johnson fired the equalizer late in the period. Cavin Tilsley gave the Kings their only lead of the entire weekend when he collected his eighth of the season on a Kings' power play, 5:19 into the third period. Tyler Rockwell forced overtime when he tied it 14:02 into the third.
The Spruce Kings (12-47-4-1) return to Rolling Mix Concrete Arena on Thursday when they host the Langley Rivermen. On Friday, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs will be in town.
The Kings, who will not make the playoffs, host the Surrey Eagles Feb. 27-28 in their season-ending games.
