The Prince George Spruce Kings continued their travels on the victory train to begin a six-game road-trip this afternoon (Jan. 22).
Up against the BC Hockey League’s (BCHL) top club, the ‘Kings erased a two-goal deficit in the second period to pull ahead of the Coquitlam Express and stole two points in a 4-3 final before 1,300 students and fans for the matinee contest.
Prince George extends its win streak to two games after snapping a three-game skid Friday night (Jan. 17) on home ice in a 4-2 triumph over Langley, doing so in old-school Mohawks sweaters.
Today, goaltender Carter Woodside got his fourth win as a member of the Spruce Kings, stopping 28 of 31 shots from the Express.
Nick Bochen recorded his fourth multi-point game of the 2019-20 season, the 12th of his BCHL career, nabbing the go-ahead goal in the middle frame and adding an assist on Corey Cunningham’s eventual game-winner.
Bochen is tied for the lead in points for Prince George defenceman with five goals and 22 points in 31 games; he ranks 19th among blue-liners in the league.
Coquitlam lead 2-0 at the first intermission, which included one power-play goal.
The Spruce Kings surged back in the second stanza with two goals in under 70 seconds courtesy of Mason Reeves and Captain Nolan Welsh.
Reeves started the comeback at 5:28 into the frame with assists from Tom Richter and Jackson Zloty, his first point with the organization.
Welsh potted his 13th of the year not long after and the lone assist went to Preston Brodziak.
Bochen followed up with his marker seven minutes later, with helpers from Nick Poisson and Andrew Seaman, to hold on to a 3-2 advantage going into the dressing room.
Cunningham’s team-leading 17th goal gave Prince George a two-goal cushion nearly six minutes into the third, thanks to passes from Bochen and Carter Cochrane.
The Prince George hockey product’s marker forced a goalie-swap for the Express after Joe Howe let in four goals on 12 shots.
Coquitlam gave themselves a chance by adding another goal with 35 seconds remaining in regulation, but the buzzer sounded off for the Spruce Kings’ 4-3 win on the road.
This was the red, white and blue’s first win over their Mainland Division rivals after losing the first five meetings in this season’s campaign.
Prince George’s record improves to 16-24-2-3 with 13 games left on the 2019-20 schedule.
They play in Surrey Friday night (Jan. 24) to take on the Eagles, who’ve won five of their last six meetings with the defending BCHL champions.
The ‘Kings then go to Chilliwack on Saturday (Jan. 25).
