They were on the right track to complete a comeback in the final game of 2019-20.
However, the Prince George Spruce Kings’ efforts were stopped in a 4-3 final via a skills contest against the regular season-champion Express on home ice.
The red, white and blue earned one point over the last weekend of the year following a Friday night 4-2 setback to Coquitlam at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (RMCA).
Both teams produced 26 shots last night (Feb. 22) with goaltenders Jett Alexander and Joe Howe each turning away 23.
After a scoreless first period, the Express rolled their way to a 2-0 lead by the midway mark of the next stanza.
Haydn Delorme cut the lead in half with 3:19 remaining in the second, taking passes from Colton Cameron and Jackson Zloty.
Coquitlam eventually got their two-goal advantage back and looked to have had the regulation win in the bag, but the Spruce Kings had other plans.
Corey Cunningham made it 3-2 with five minutes left in the final frame, nabbing helpers from Brendan Hill and Wil Kushniryk, and sealing his team’s season-long goal-scoring title at 26.
Mason Waite tied it up with 72 seconds remaining from Nick Bochen and Fin Williams and sending Game #58 into overtime, but wouldn’t solve anything between the Mainland Division rivals.
The Express took control of the shootout, beating Prince George 2-1 in the extra innings.
The Spruce Kings’ 2019-20 season record is finalized at 18-32-3-5, marking the sixth time in team history they were held to less than 20 wins in BCHL play.
This was also the second-lowest scoring BCHL season for Prince George at 150 goals.
Nick Poisson, who’s the Mainland Division nominee for BCHL Most Sportsmanlike Player, won his team’s season scoring race with 47 points in 49 games, including 21 goals and 26 assists.
Prince George will now get ready for the Fred Page Cup Playoffs as they’ll face the Trail Smoke Eaters in the first round starting this Friday (Feb. 28).
The RMCA will host Games Three and Four of the best-of-seven series on March 2 and 3.
