Three down, one to go!
The Prince George Spruce Kings have taken a commanding 3-0 series lead against the Express in the opening round of the B.C. Hockey League (BCHL) playoffs, defeating them 5-2 in Coquitlam Monday night (March 4).
This means the team needs one more win to not only sweep the series, but to advance to the Mainland Division Final, which will also be a best-of-seven contest.
Goaltender Logan Neaton made his third consecutive start for the Spruce Kings in this 2018-19 postseason, stopping 30 of 32 shots.
Prince George went back-and-forth up the tracks of the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex in this Game Three tilt, with each club exchanging their first two goals.
Spruce Kings forward Chong Min Lee lit the first lamp of the game, the assists from Corey Cunningham and Lucas Vanroboys eight minutes in, which was matched by a Coquitlam goal less than five minutes later.
The Poisson brothers connected on Prince George’s second goal of the game; Nick took a pass from Ben in the seventh minute of the middle frame to regain the advantage.
The Express followed suit with another tying marker a half-period later, but Nick Poisson decided to get his second playoff goal with 63 seconds left in the period, which included yet another assist from brother Ben to give the visitors a 3-2 lead heading into the dressing room.
In the third period, the Spruce Kings took control by scoring two unanswered goals by defencemen Layton Ahac and Liam Watson-Brawn.
Watson-Brawn’s insurance marker was an empty-netter while Prince George was on a penalty kill in the final minute of Game Three.
Game Four is set for tonight (March 5), 7:15 p.m. in Coquitlam.
Should the Spruce Kings prevail and swiftly steamroll the Express, they await the winner of the other first-round series between Langley and Chilliwack.
The fourth-ranked Rivermen have been playing with authority against the reigning National-champion Chiefs, taking a 3-0 lead of their own with a 5-0 shutout victory in their home barn on Monday.
These teams will also play at the exact same time tonight, 7:15 p.m. in Langley.
If Prince George loses this evening, Game Five will be back at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (RMCA) this Thursday (March 7) with a 7 p.m. puck-drop.
Prince George, Vernon, Powell River, and Langley were the winners on Monday night as the Chevrolet #BCHLPlayoffs roll along.
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) March 5, 2019
Check out the highlights from around the league in another exciting edition of #BCHLin60! pic.twitter.com/aBsnH5O9uS
